Qingdao Gaoce(SH:688556)2025-06-26 15:51Summary of the Conference Call for Gaoce Co., Ltd. Company Overview - Company: Gaoce Co., Ltd. - Date: June 26, 2026 Key Points Industry Performance - The photovoltaic (PV) equipment industry is currently undergoing a capacity clearing phase, with low operating rates and irrational pricing, leading to significant pressure on the industry [4][33]. - Gaoce's financial data indicates an improvement in Q2 compared to Q1, with expectations for continued growth in Q3 and Q4 [4]. Financial Performance - Gaoce's Q1 performance showed improvement, with expectations for Q3 and Q4 to continue this trend [2]. - The PV equipment business is expected to incur losses this year due to a significant reduction in new orders, with projected revenues down from last year [4][17]. - The company anticipates a loss in the PV equipment sector for 2025, with current orders valued at approximately 200-300 million yuan [17]. Business Segments - Diamond Wire Business: After three consecutive quarters of decline, the diamond wire business achieved breakeven in Q1 and continued to improve in Q2, with expected annual shipment volume significantly higher than last year [2][4]. - Wafer Slicing Business: Currently in a loss position, but the loss has narrowed significantly in Q2, with hopes for breakeven in Q3 and Q4 [2][25]. - Innovative Business: The company is expanding into semiconductor, silicon carbide, and sapphire stone sectors, with expected revenue growth surpassing last year's 244 million yuan [2][5]. R&D and New Products - Gaoce is developing a screw grinding machine for humanoid robots, leveraging technology from the PV and semiconductor sectors. This project is in the early stages, with a prototype expected by the end of the year [5][9]. - The company has introduced new materials, including ultra-high molecular weight, tungsten wire, and carbon wire, with nearly 10 clients currently testing these products [12][13]. Market Trends and Pricing - The market price for carbon wire is approximately 11 yuan per kilometer, while tungsten wire is around 22 yuan per kilometer [20]. - The penetration rate of FOS materials in the PV industry has reached nearly 70% as of May [21]. Challenges and Opportunities - The main challenge in developing the screw grinding machine is the internal thread grinding technology, which requires high precision in narrow spaces [8]. - There is a significant opportunity for domestic substitution of imported humanoid robot screw grinding machines, as current market offerings are primarily from overseas [7]. Future Outlook - The company expects stable growth in innovative business segments, particularly in semiconductor and silicon carbide, with increasing market demand anticipated in the coming years [27]. - The overall performance of the PV industry is expected to remain under pressure, with no significant changes anticipated in 2025 [33]. Strategic Initiatives - Gaoce is actively promoting convertible bond conversions and considering various measures such as performance management, strategic objectives, and share buybacks to facilitate this process [32]. Conclusion - Gaoce Co., Ltd. is navigating a challenging environment in the PV industry while strategically expanding into innovative sectors. The company is focused on R&D and product development to capitalize on emerging market opportunities, despite facing significant industry pressures.