Core Viewpoint - The company, Qingdao High-tech Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "High-tech Co."), is facing significant financial challenges due to the downturn in the photovoltaic industry, leading to losses in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The founder, Zhang Xu, announced plans to diversify into the screw grinding equipment sector to explore new business opportunities [1][3]. Financial Performance - High-tech Co. experienced a net profit of 1.461 billion yuan in 2023, but the company has since entered a deep adjustment phase in the photovoltaic industry, resulting in a substantial decline in performance. By the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported a single-quarter loss that wiped out profits from the first three quarters, leading to an annual loss and a net cash flow from operating activities dropping to -1.261 billion yuan [3]. - As of the end of 2024, accounts receivable aged 1-2 years surged 13 times to 886 million yuan, with bad debt provisions reaching 261 million yuan [3]. Industry Context - The photovoltaic industry is currently experiencing a severe downturn, exacerbated by oversupply in the silicon wafer segment, which has caused prices to plummet. High-tech Co.'s market value has decreased from over 23 billion yuan at its peak in 2022 to less than 6 billion yuan [3]. - The company has previously navigated industry challenges, such as the 2018 "531 photovoltaic policy," which temporarily led to losses. However, it managed to recover due to increased demand and product orders [3]. Strategic Shift - High-tech Co. is now focusing on the development of precision grinding technology for humanoid robots, aiming to enhance its research and development capabilities in this area. The company plans to develop screw grinding products that meet international standards, hoping to support domestic replacements in the industry [3]. - The market for screw grinding equipment is projected to reach 50 billion yuan over the next five years, indicating a significant opportunity for High-tech Co. in this new sector [3]. Industry Response - The challenges faced by High-tech Co. reflect broader pressures on photovoltaic equipment manufacturers. To alleviate accounts receivable pressure, the company has recently engaged in a debt-to-equity swap worth 100 million yuan with Runyang Co. This strategy has been adopted by other peers in the industry as well [4]. - The shift towards new business avenues is becoming a common consensus among industry players, with High-tech Co. aiming to replicate its previous successful transitions from tire testing to photovoltaic cutting and now to robot grinding [4].
光伏周期遇冷,青岛高测股份转战机器人赛道寻出路