Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the domestic market for grinding machines, particularly in the context of humanoid robot screw manufacturing, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in this sector [1][2][12]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Manufacturing Challenges**: The core difficulty in manufacturing humanoid robot screws lies in ensuring processing precision and efficiency. Current manufacturers are developing specialized equipment, but there is no universally accepted best practice for the process [3][11]. - **Advantages of Planetary Roller Screws**: Compared to traditional ball screws, planetary roller screws offer significant advantages in load capacity, compact installation space, noise reduction, acceleration, and transmission precision, making them more suitable for humanoid robots [4]. - **Precision Control in Internal Thread Processing**: Internal thread processing faces challenges such as the need for high precision in the grinding wheel design and the wear of the grinding wheel during use. The external diameter of the grinding wheel must not exceed the minimum diameter of the nut's internal thread [5][6]. - **Grinding Machine's Role**: Grinding machines are crucial in the production of planetary roller screws, generating grinding force through high-speed rotation of the grinding wheel. Factors such as wheel hardness, force, and shape must be optimized to reduce vibration and deformation [8][10]. Market Dynamics - **Trade Deficit in Grinding Machines**: The domestic grinding machine market shows a trade deficit, with imports valued at $850 million and exports at $520 million in 2024, resulting in a deficit of approximately $330 million. This indicates a rising demand for high-end machines [1][14][15]. - **Price Discrepancies**: The average price of imported grinding machines is significantly higher than that of exported machines, with CNC flat and internal grinding machines typically priced between $200,000 and $300,000, and some high-end machines reaching prices in the millions [16]. - **Low Domestic Localization Rate**: The localization rate for various categories of grinding machines is generally low, not exceeding 30%. The demand for humanoid robot screws is driving domestic companies to develop mid-to-high-end products and specialized equipment [2][18]. Additional Important Insights - **Market Potential**: The market for specialized equipment driven by humanoid robots is projected to reach a scale of nearly $10 billion, with significant growth potential in the planetary roller and micro screw technology sectors [13]. - **Challenges in Internal Thread Grinding**: Internal thread grinding is time-consuming, accounting for about two-thirds of the entire process, and traditional equipment shows varying efficiency levels [11]. - **Future Development Trends**: As the demand for humanoid robot screws increases, domestic companies are gradually moving towards high-end products and developing specialized equipment. The path to achieving localization in key technologies remains challenging but necessary [18].