Initial Stage (1950s – late 1970s)
Since the 1950s, China's steel bar bending machine industry began to emerge alongside the growth of the construction sector. At that time, domestic technology in this field was limited, and reliance was mainly placed on imported equipment and technology, followed by imitation. Early products were simple in structure and operated manually or semi-manually. They could only bend steel bars of basic specifications, with low accuracy and efficiency, and were primarily used in small-scale construction projects.Following the "First Five-Year Plan," China started pursuing independent R\&D and production. Small machining factories gradually began producing basic steel bar bending equipment. However, the overall industry remained small in scale and lagged far behind foreign counterparts. Even by the late 1970s, there were still few domestic manufacturers, and product variety was limited.
Early Development Stage (1980s – late 1990s):
In the early 1980s, China's steel bar bending machine industry made notable progress. The number of manufacturers increased, and production gradually expanded. Domestic enterprises began to absorb advanced foreign technologies, leading to improved product performance. Medium-sized steel bar bending machines began to be produced, and some were equipped with speed regulation functions.
In 1996, China domestically developed a variable-speed steel bar bending machine, enhancing flexibility and precision. That same year, Denmark's Sterna Company introduced the Unimatic 18VS automatic steel bar forming machine, marking the global trend toward automation. During this period, demand for steel bar bending machines grew in line with increased construction activity. Industry competition began to take shape, and companies started placing more emphasis on improving product quality and performance.
Rapid Development Stage (circa 2000–2010)
With the rapid development of China's economy in the 21st century, infrastructure and real estate boomed, significantly increasing demand for steel bar processing in the construction industry. This drove the rapid growth of the steel bar bending machine industry.
Product structures became increasingly diversified, evolving from basic bending machines to multi-functional processing equipment capable of bending, cutting, and straightening. As automation advanced, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology was introduced, greatly improving processing precision and efficiency to meet the high standards of large-scale construction projects.
Some domestic enterprises began to stand out, gradually breaking the technological monopoly of foreign companies. Their products not only satisfied domestic needs but also started to be exported in small quantities.
Innovation and Upgrading Stage (2010 – Present)
With rapid technological advancements and the push for intelligent and eco-friendly development in the construction sector, the steel bar bending machine industry entered a new phase of innovation and upgrading. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence have been widely adopted in this equipment.
Modern machines now feature remote monitoring, fault early warning, and automatic parameter adjustment, making operations more efficient and user-friendly. Processing precision and productivity have reached new heights. For instance, the CNC steel bar bending and coiling machine developed by Jianke Machinery can be operated by a single worker and complete one steel bar component every two seconds.
Environmental protection policies have also led companies to develop energy-efficient and eco-friendly products. Hydraulic steel bar bending machines have gradually become mainstream due to their high precision and relatively low energy consumption.
Driven by initiatives such as the "Belt and Road Initiative," Chinese steel bar bending machine manufacturers are accelerating their global expansion. Through continuous technological innovation and product upgrades, domestic companies are enhancing their international competitiveness. While competing with foreign brands, they have also established overseas sales networks and service systems.