On November 11 Yuchai Zhuhai Marine Power Co., Ltd., (YZMP) held the launch ceremony for the first RT-flex35 low-speed diesel engine at Zhuhai Fushan Industrial Park. YZMPs assembling & commissioning workshop was well decorated to welcome leaders and guests at all levels. Among attendees were Ren Ganlin, secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and chairman of the Zhuhai Municipal Peoples Congress; Liu Wei, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology; Liu Xiaolong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and first deputy mayor of Zhuhai; Jiao Lansheng, secretary of the CPC Doumen District Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Doumen District Peoples Congress; Ulrich Hunn, consul general of the Swiss consulate in Guangzhou; Eero Suominen, consul general of the Finnish consulate in Guangzhou; Gu Tangsheng, president and Wang Hong, chief accountant of Yuchai Group; Shen Jie, chief engineer of Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. (YM); Jiang Shihong, chairman and general manager of YZMP; and Martin Wernli, president of Wartsila (Switzerland) Corporation. Jiang presided over the ceremony.  

The worlds first RT-flex low-speed diesel engine

In a speech, Gu said, RT-flex full electric control common rail low-speed marine diesel engine project is a cooperative project between YZMP and Wartsila. Chinas shipbuilding industry has long relied on import for 70% of large-power diesel engines. To invigorate the national shipbuilding industry, Yuchai actively responded to the States Plan for Shipbuilding Industry Restructuring and Invigoration, developed the industry chain and participated in international competition under the guidance of the strategic principle of focusing on one business and developing in depth. The worlds first RT-flex5 launched today is a low-speed marine diesel engine with a new design model in the world fabricated by a newly-build Chinese plant, marking a breakthrough in low-speed diesel engine production in South China and opening a new page for the development of Chinas shipbuilding industry. In the meantime, YZMP has set two records in the Chinese history of shipbuilding: the highest construction speed in the global low-speed diesel engine industry (eight months from plant construction to production); the highest output speed in the global low-speed diesel engine industry (less than 12 months from plant construction to commissioning), adding new highlights to Chinas marine power.  

Ceremony scene

Wernli delivered a speech, saying RT-flex low-speed diesel engine is most advanced and outstanding among similar products, YZMP is one of Chinas and the worlds most advanced plants, and the construction of the model has set a record.

Customer representative Chen Mingfa, chairman of Fuzhou Mingfa Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd., said RT-flex is currently the worlds most advanced, environment-friendly and operable low-speed diesel engine. RT-flexs common rail technology has been the most mature, outstanding and successful electric control technology so far, and has become a standard feature of the shipbuilding industry. YZMP is the quintessence of the strong combination of Yuchai and Wartsila. YZMPs performance in brand choice, series choice, plant siting, capital construction and first engine launch have all showed its high standards and requirements--Starting up with the world.

Liu made an ebullient speech, saying as a symbolic advanced manufacturing project in Doumen and west Zhuhai, YZMPs project will play a significant role in speeding up the construction of equipment manufacturing bases in Zhuhai and in accomplishing high-end industrial development and mismatching development. This is Zhuhais new fruit of focusing on initiating large projects, developing great industries and constructing large parks. Diesel engines enjoy a rosy outlook in the country and the world. The municipal government and committee will continue supporting Yuchais development and cementing cooperation with Yuchai in diverse fields.

Jiao also spoke at the ceremony, saying Fushan Industrial Park achieved remarkable effects in a short span of two years, and its gross industrial output value is expected to soar by 282%. The manufacturing and launch of YZMPs first RT-flex engine today and the successive initiation of a large array of upcoming projects in the park fully show that the municipal government and committee have made great breakthrough in the park integration strategy of building a great stage for new projects.

On the scene, Zhang Xu, chairman of Ningbo Lixiang Heavy Industry Machinery Co., Ltd. and Xie Jianshu, purchase director of Jiangsu Huahai Shipping Group signed a contract for ten 6RT-flex58 diesel engines and a contract for four 6RT-flex40 diesel engines with Chen Hailin, deputy general manager of YZMP respectively, with a total value of over 300 million yuan. So far, YZMP has won orders for 35 units.  

Gu (R), Gan (M) and Wernli (L) jointly launch YZMPs first low-speed diesel engine

At last, in soul-stirring music, Gan, Gu and Wernli jointly launched YZMPs first low-speed diesel engine. As the red silk cloth rose slowly, the hall burst into applause and witnessed the launch of the worlds first RT-flex35 at YZMP.

Before the ceremony, municipal leaders including Gan met with major leaders and guests from Yuchai and Wartsila, exchanging ideas on furthering tripartite cooperation.

According to new sources:

On the day of the ceremony, YZMP delivered several events to offer attendees a better knowledge of RT-flex35 low-speed diesel engine, YZMP and Yuchai.

At the corporate and product presentation in YZMPs office building, Huang Zhenping, deputy general manager of YZMP, introduced Yuchais development and YZMPs construction and development strategy. YZMP signed first sales contracts in May 2010, initiated plant construction on November 4, 2010 and put into operation the assembling & commissioning workshop on July 11, 2011. During the period, YZMP conducted scheduling in strict accordance with delivery time, worked out an elaborate production plan, intensified construction, spared no efforts in equipment selection, talent recruitment and training, and production organization, and eventually worked miracles: the worlds first RT-flex35 engine; a low-speed marine diesel engine with a new design model in the world fabricated by a newly-build Chinese plant; the highest construction speed in the global low-speed diesel engine industry (eight months from plant construction to production); the highest output speed in the global low-speed diesel engine industry (less than 12 months from plant construction to commissioning); the first low-speed marine diesel engine in South China.

Also, Daniel Schimid from Wartsila introduced Wartsila and its products. Wartsila is the worlds largest medium-speed diesel engine and power plant equipment supplier and manufacturer, as well as one of the worlds two largest low-speed marine diesel engine manufacturers. To support the development of its core business, the company operates Northern Europe Engineering Iron and Steel Company and other assets concurrently. Founded in 1843, headquartered in Finland, the company has manufacturing and technical development centers in Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and Italy, provides technical patents to 15 plants, has over 20 exclusively-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and representative offices in more than 50 countries and regions, and achieved sales of 3.763 billion euros in 2007, including 1.55 billion from patent services. RT-flex has advantages such as optimal ship matching, high reliability, five-year overhaul, low fuel consumption, low cylinder oil consumption, low need for auxiliary power and extremely low steady speed.

At the same time, YZMP established an expert committee and held the first meeting of the first expert committee, The committee consists of industrial experts including Gan Fengqi, vice chairman of the Chinese Society for Internal Combustion Engines; Ma Xiuzhen, dean of the College of Power and Energy Engineering of Harbin Engineering University; Ju Jin, president of Guangzhou Marine Engineering Corporation; Shen Jie, chief engineer of YM and Li Qin, senior technical advisor to chairman of Yuchai.

(Text by Mei Changfu, photo by Mei Changfu/He Hui)