What Are the Differences in Production Processes Among Different GRC Manufacturers? In-Depth Analysis of Each Manufacturer's Process Characteristics and Differences

The quality of architectural decorative materials often lies hidden in the details of the production process. As an industry player with 28 years of deep engagement in the UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials field, Qinglong Group has witnessed the differentiated explorations of various manufacturers on their process paths. Today, with GRC materials at the core, we provide an in-depth analysis of the characteristics and differences among manufacturers in production processes, offering a selection reference for designers and owners.

Core Differences in GRC Production Processes: Technical Divergence from Raw Materials to Forming

The process differences among GRC manufacturers are first reflected in raw material control. Premium manufacturers such as Qinglong use high-purity rapid-hardening sulphoaluminate cement, alkali-resistant glass fibre (content ≥5%) and graded quartz sand, achieving a batching accuracy of ±1% through fully automatic metering systems; whereas some small and medium-sized manufacturers may use ordinary Portland cement with a fibre content of only 3%-4%, resulting in product flexural strength differences of more than 10MPa. In mixing technology, industry-leading companies adopt planetary forced-action mixers to ensure uniform fibre dispersion without clumping, while traditional drum mixers are prone to uneven fibre distribution, directly affecting the mechanical performance of components.

Forming Processes: The Efficiency Contest Between Mechanization and Handcraft

The GRC forming process is a watershed of a manufacturer's technical strength. Leading enterprises such as Qinglong have achieved digitalized mould production, using CNC engraving and 3D printing technology to create high-precision moulds, combined with automated spray-up forming equipment, keeping component dimensional deviations within ±2mm. Take the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road as an example: its translucent concrete UHPC components achieved 0.5mm-level light-transmitting precision through parametric design and compression moulding processes. By contrast, some manufacturers still rely on hand troweling, which not only results in low production efficiency (daily output is only 1/3 of that of automated lines) but also makes surface flatness difficult to guarantee, with especially significant differences in forming quality for complex shapes such as double-curved surfaces.

Curing System: The Key Process That Determines Durability

The curing process directly affects the service life of GRC components. Compliant manufacturers adopt a dual-stage mode of “steam curing + natural curing”. For example, Qinglong's constant temperature and humidity curing kiln can precisely control the curing temperature at 60±2℃ with relative humidity ≥95%, ensuring a 28-day compressive strength of over 60MPa. Some manufacturers, however, simplify the curing process and use natural curing only, resulting in insufficient early strength and a tendency to crack later on. It is worth noting that members of the International GRC Association typically introduce carbonation depth testing to ensure a 20-year carbonation depth of ≤5mm for components—this is one of Qinglong's core technical advantages as an association member.

Full-Chain Service Capability: Extending and Implementing Process Advantages

True process competitiveness is reflected in full-chain services. As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong integrates BIM technology from the detailed design stage, optimizing component segmentation through parametric modeling to reduce on-site installation errors. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, its GRC exterior wall panels, through factory prefabrication and on-site modular installation, shortened the construction period by 40%. In contrast, some manufacturers can only provide production-stage services and lack capabilities in detailed design and installation guidance, making it difficult for design concepts to be perfectly realized. This difference is particularly evident in large landmark projects, such as a convention and exhibition center project in Nanning, where the manufacturer's lack of construction technical support led to installation deviations in 20% of the components, which ultimately had to be re-customized.

Process differences are, in essence, a reflection of technical accumulation and quality philosophy. As an enterprise that participated in drafting the “Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fibre Reinforced Cement (GRC)”, Qinglong has always believed that premium GRC products are not merely a combination of materials, but the ultimate pursuit of process details. From raw material screening to finished product curing, from detailed design to installation guidance, it is the relentless refinement of every link that truly fulfills the mission of “creating aesthetically beautiful architecture”. For designers and owners, choosing a GRC manufacturer with mature processes means choosing not just a material, but a complete quality assurance system.