Recently, the results of the 2026 Metallurgical Science and Technology Award were announced. The project "Development and Application of Key Technologies for High-Strength, Tough, Extra-Thick Steel Plates for Marine Equipment," jointly submitted by Wugang Company and Northeastern University, won the Grand Prize, marking a major breakthrough in China's field of key marine engineering materials. After ten years of intensive efforts, the project has been continuously advancing and successfully solving the challenges of producing high-strength, extra-thick steel plates required for China's construction of ultra-large deep-sea drilling platforms, ultra-large tonnage wind power installation vessels, and 10,000-meter deep-sea submersibles.
To better meet market and customer demands, the project team developed the world's first set of ultra-thick steel plate high-penetration rolling equipment and the world's thickest roller quenching equipment, achieving comprehensive innovation from equipment and processes to product series, and has achieved multiple international firsts in mass production, including the highest level and thickest rack steel and pressure-resistant shell steel. Related equipment processes have become industry standards, and a series of high-end offshore steel products have been widely applied in major national equipment and various marine projects, providing solid support for achieving independent control over the national marine equipment industry chain.
As the first domestic production and research base for wide and thick plates, Wugang has always taken serving the strategy of building a strong maritime nation as its mission, continuously promoting the localization of offshore steel industry. Wugang's thick-thickness rack steel has fully replaced imports, holding over 90% market share, and will win the China Iron and Steel Association Market Development Award in 2025. At the same time, EH420-grade deep-sea jacket steel has achieved lightweight applications, forming a complete independent intellectual property system.
In terms of technological innovation, Wugang has leveraged this project to overcome technical bottlenecks in high-manganese steel material regulation, welding material matching, and tank forming, breaking the long-standing foreign monopoly. By 2025, the country's first set of high-manganese steel marine fuel tanks will be delivered for use, achieving practical ship application, along with product standards and application guides, establishing a full industry chain independent innovation system from materials to applications.
Wugang adheres to a user-oriented approach, deeply aligning with manufacturing needs, and has earned widespread recognition through excellent technical performance and high-quality service. Currently, Wugang has passed certifications from multiple major international classification societies, making it the highest-level, most complete, most diverse, and largest offshore steel R&D and production base in China, achieving full coverage of all varieties and specifications.
From key preparation technologies to material applications, Wugang independently innovates across the entire offshore steel chain, strongly supporting China's demand for localization of marine engineering equipment and forging the "backbone of special steel" toward deep blue.
