Recently, zinc-coated steel disk head screws, a core category of general fasteners, have shown a steady growth trend driven by both technological upgrades and market demand. Data shows that the market size of related sub-sectors in China reached 4.86 billion yuan in 2024 and is expected to exceed 5.3 billion yuan by the end of 2025, with an average annual compound growth rate maintained at around 7.2%, making it a highly dynamic sub-sector in the metal processing field.
The breakthrough in surface modification technology has become the core engine for improving the quality and efficiency of the industry. Although the traditional electro-galvanizing process can enhance the corrosion resistance of screws, it has the problem of heavy metal pollution. Nowadays, the application of new technologies such as low-temperature plasma treatment and ion implantation has significantly improved product performance. For zinc-coated screws treated with low-temperature plasma, the salt spray test life has soared from 500 hours to 1200 hours, and the wear resistance has increased by nearly three times. The molten galvanizing process has also been optimized. By precisely controlling the galvanizing temperature at 450-500°C and adding 0.5-1.0% aluminum, a denser equiaxy crystal structure of the zinc layer is formed, and the interface stress is controlled below 50MPa.
Environmental protection policies are accelerating the green transformation of the industry. With increasingly strict environmental protection regulations, traditional acidic zinc sulfate electroplating solutions are gradually being replaced due to the presence of heavy metal ions, and alkaline zincate electroplating and environmentally friendly electroplating solution technologies have been widely promoted. In the field of coating modification, processes such as electrophoretic coating and fluoride conversion film not only enable screws to have a salt spray life of 2,000 hours in Marine environments, but also meet green production standards. Currently, the application proportion of electrophoretic coated screws in the construction industry has reached 65%.
The fluctuation of raw material prices has become the focus of attention in the industry. Since September 2024, the price of steel has risen by more than 200 yuan per ton. The purchase price of scrap steel from 135 steel mills has increased by 10 to 150 yuan per ton, and the daily increase in the ex-factory price of steel billets has reached 150 yuan per ton. Despite the rising costs, the demand in fields such as new energy vehicles and high-end equipment remains strong. The proportion of 12.9 grade and above high-strength zinc-coated screws is expected to increase to 35%, driving the market size of alloy steel products to grow by 12% annually.
The process of import substitution has been accelerating continuously. Currently, the domestic production rate of alloy steel disc head screws has reached 67.5%, an increase of 22 percentage points compared with 2020. However, the import dependence on ultra-high strength products of grade 12.9 and above still reaches 38.6%, which prompts enterprises to increase their investment in research and development. The Shanghai International Fastener Industry Expo, which is scheduled to be held in May 2025, will build a platform for the connection of the industrial chain, facilitating technology transformation and market expansion. In the future, green processes and high-end products will become the core competitiveness of the zinc-coated steel head screw industry.