On August 10, the scientific and technological achievement evaluation meeting for "Key Technologies for Scaled Manufacturing of Bio-Inspired Plywood and New Product Development" was grandly held at Xingang Group.
The evaluation brought together the nation's top forestry experts in the "Capital of China's Panel Industry" - Linyi - to jointly examine the innovation results and witness an important breakthrough in the green upgrade of China's wood-based panel industry. Distinguished attendees included three academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering: Li Jian (Northeast Forestry University), Wu Yiqiang (Central South University of Forestry and Technology), and Fan Guoqiang (Henan Agricultural University); researchers Chu Fuxiang and Ye Kelin of the Chinese Academy of Forestry; Professor Sun Qingfeng, Vice President of Zhejiang A&F University; and other experts from leading forestry universities, industry associations, and local government, alongside Xingang Group Chairman Wei Xiaoxin, Vice President Xiao Shaoliang, and President Wei Ziming.
Committee Verdict: All Three Products Rated "Internationally Leading"
Following comprehensive, rigorous, and professional review - including expert questioning, discussion, and overall deliberation - the evaluation committee unanimously concluded that the three products jointly developed and manufactured by Xingang Group and Northeast Forestry University all achieved "internationally leading" status:
This conclusion marks a major breakthrough by Xingang in key green, low-carbon manufacturing technologies and new products, and provides a new technological pathway for the green, low-carbon, and high-end development of China's panel industry.
From Lab to Production Line - A Decade of Collaborative Innovation
In his address, Chairman Wei Xiaoxin expressed gratitude to the leaders, academicians, experts, industry associations, and universities that have long supported Xingang's technology innovation and industrial development. For years, Xingang has partnered with Academician Li Jian's team to continuously advance bio-inspired green adhesive technology - from laboratory to production line, from research achievements to scaled applications.
He noted that on August 6, the project "Construction of Bio-Inspired High-Strength Waterproof Wood Composite Materials and Production System Based on Industrial Base Technology Innovation", led by Shandong Xingang Enterprise Group with Northeast Forestry University, won the first provincial-level science and technology progress first prize led by a panel enterprise. Chairman Wei stated that Xingang will take this evaluation as a new starting point to deepen industry-academia-research collaboration, accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements, and integrate the innovation chain, industrial chain, and talent chain - contributing more original, leading achievements to the high-quality development of China's panel industry.
The evaluation proceeded in three phases, chaired successively by Zeng Xiangwei (Deputy Secretary-General, China Society of Forestry), Academician Wu Yiqiang (Chair of the Evaluation Committee), and Zhou Hongsheng (President, China Forest Products Industry Association). Academician Fan Guoqiang served as Vice Chair of the committee.
Three Self-Developed Panels Unveiled
Vice President Xiao Shaoliang, representing the project team, presented a comprehensive report on the R&D background, technical route, core innovations, performance indicators, intellectual property, scaled manufacturing, and industrial applications, officially unveiling the three self-developed panels:
Achieves the HENF highest environmental standard; 99.99% Grade I strong antibacterial; 99% Grade I antiviral performance.
Passed marine-grade salt spray testing, meeting the British standard for marine plywood - built for the most demanding exterior and marine environments.
Specially engineered for extra-tall cabinet doors using an innovative cold-press process - production energy consumption reduced by 35%, resistant to deformation under long-term temperature and humidity cycling, with no additional straightening bars required.
The complete technology system has cracked the international common technical challenge of formaldehyde-free bio-inspired plywood, providing a technological pathway for the high-quality transformation and upgrading of the panel industry.
Rigorous Review, Unanimous Verdict
Adhering to scientific, rigorous, and objective principles, the committee carefully reviewed the project's technical documentation, test reports, novelty search reports, and supporting materials, engaging in in-depth questioning on technical principles, innovation points, key indicators, process stability, intellectual property, scaled manufacturing capability, and economic and social benefits.
The project team responded point by point to every expert question. Following full discussion and comprehensive deliberation, the committee chair read the evaluation opinion on site: all three new products reached "internationally leading" level, and the evaluation was passed unanimously. Committee experts then formally signed the appraisal - an authoritative recognition of the project's technical level and a high affirmation of Xingang's long-term commitment to independent innovation, industry-academia-research collaboration, and the industrialization of scientific achievements.
Academician Li Jian: Deepening Collaboration, Scaling New Heights
Sharing his reflections on site, Academician Li Jian extended sincere thanks to the academicians, experts, and leaders who gathered at Xingang. He praised the review team's meticulous material preparation and rigorous, responsible deliberation - a full demonstration of the truth-seeking scholarship of researchers in the forestry engineering field. He noted that the team will seriously incorporate the committee's optimization suggestions, continue deepening industry-academia-research collaboration, help Xingang keep upgrading on the bio-inspired plywood technology track, and drive the panel industry to higher development levels through original technology.
Government Endorsement: A Benchmark for Linyi's Wood Industry Transformation
Xue Feng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Linyi Municipal Party Committee and Secretary-General, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the academicians and experts for bringing their expertise to Linyi. He praised Academician Li Jian's outstanding contributions to China's panel industry, describing the gathering of multiple academicians for this evaluation as a major event in Linyi's wood industry history.
With its strong industrial foundation and complete supply chain advantages, Linyi's wood industry is a core pillar supporting local development, and the city is now striving to build itself into the "Capital of China's Wood Industry." As a leading local enterprise, Xingang has achieved leapfrog technology development with the empowerment of the academician team. These three internationally-leading bio-panel products set a benchmark for the city's wood industry transformation - and the municipal government will continue to support the industry's growth.
A New Starting Point for the Climb
From a drop of bio-inspired adhesive to a bio-inspired panel; from one original technology to a complete industrial system covering R&D, manufacturing, and application - Xingang consistently answers the industry's questions with technological innovation and drives industry progress through the transformation of achievements.
This evaluation meeting was not only an authoritative examination of Xingang's bio-plywood technology innovations, but also another successful practice of the "government-industry-academia-research-application" collaborative innovation mechanism. Appraisal is not the finish line - it is a new starting point for climbing higher peaks.
"Applying one generation, developing one generation,
reserving one generation" - the innovation system for the future.
Xingang will continue to lead with original innovation, moving more scientific achievements
out of the laboratory, onto production lines, and into millions of homes -
setting new technology benchmarks for China's wood industry green transformation.
Linyi, Shandong, China | www.cnxingang.com