Specialist
Former sales manager at a manufacturer of machinery products
Agenda
- Aluminium die casting alloy application in autos, die casting technology development, integrated die casting processes and technology strengths and weaknesses
- Core integrated die casting equipment, die casting machine industry competitive landscape, plus performance and speed comparison
- Super-large die casting machine technology barriers, companies with mass production capability, LK Technology’s (HKG: 0558) product prices, order volume update and machine delivery timeframe
- LK Technology’s cooperation with downstream leading players, client expansion and production base development
Questions
1.
Could you first analyse how integrated die casting has become the major trend in the auto aluminium die casting alloy industry based on its effects on vehicle weight reduction, the die casting link, plant area and auto manufacturers’ cost reduction?
2.
Which ones of NEVs’ vehicle body structural parts as well as battery, motor and electric control systems can achieve integrated die casting? What mould clamping force do different parts need?
3.
Which auto parts have achieved integrated die casting and which ones have not? Do die casting machine manufacturers and auto manufacturers think integrated die casting will be applied soon?
4.
What opportunities or challenges has integrated die casting brought to die casting machine manufacturers such as LK Technology?
5.
You mentioned that a challenge may be a decline in the application of small die casting machines in vehicles as demand shifts to large or super-large die casting machines. What is the price and profit of a large or small die casting machine?
6.
There is demand for super-large die casting machines with a mould clamping force of more than 6,000 tonnes. What are their application scenarios in vehicles? Does their demand primarily come from Tesla?
7.
LK Technology planned more super-large die casting machines than competitors. Why did it plan super-large die casting machines before integrated die casting emerged? Was its first-mover advantage brought by its acquisition of Idra?
8.
Is it true that super-large die casting equipment is less demanded and less profitable?
9.
What is the competitive landscape of domestic or global auto die casting equipment market? Which manufacturers already have mass production capabilities for super-large die casting machines? As you shared, super-large machines weigh around 3,000 tonnes while according to some reports, machines weighing over 6,000 tonnes belong to the super-large mould clamping force range?
10.
Some people think that Swiss-based Bühler is the main supplier for foreign auto manufacturers while LK Technology’s equipment is more suitable for domestic market due to the production difference at home and abroad. Do you agree with this idea? Why?
11.
Does LK Technology cooperate with some major die casting machine manufacturers, such as Guangdong Wencan Die Casting (Wencan), Guangdong Hongtu Technology, Ningbo Xusheng Auto Technology (Xusheng) and Nanjing Chervon Auto Precision Technology (Chervon Auto)?
12.
Would you please introduce the R&D progress of the die casting machine with a mould clamping force of 12,000 tonnes co-developed by LK Technology and Guangdong Hongtu Technology?
13.
LK Technology works with many companies, including Tesla and some die casting machine manufacturers. Would you please introduce the client structure of the company? Does the company have a high dependence on a single client, or is that dependence decreasing?
14.
Would you please estimate the company’s Q3 revenue, current order volume, new order volume, shipment structure and near-term order delivery timeframe?
15.
Could you please introduce the latest progress and order delivery timeframe of the company’s three production bases for die casting machines in China?
16.
Could you please introduce the yield rate, yield and output of LK Technology’s die casting machine, as well as the processing time of a die casting?
17.
Why do clients choose LK Technology, apart from the fact that it has some firstcomer advantages in larger machines than its competitors?
18.
You mentioned that LK Technology’s production is still tight. Do you think it will expand in the future? Will it be more difficult?
19.
What is the progress of LK Technology’s large die casting machine production base in Shenzhen-Shantou Special Cooperation Zone (SSCZ)? It was publicly announced that it would be put into production in mid-2022.
20.
How long is the ramp-up period?
