During this year's Spring Festival Gala, a segment titled "Yango" captured the attention of viewers across ChinaFeatured in the performance were 16 humanoid robots adorned in colorful cotton jackets, dancing and twirling handkerchiefs, creating a spectacle that was both mesmerizing and unexpectedFollowing its broadcast, the robot's creator, Yushu Technology, garnered widespread recognition, taking the company from relative obscurity into the national spotlightThis remarkable leap in public interest also had a ripple effect on the stock market, particularly for a supplier of self-lubricating bearings to these robots, known as Changsheng Bearings, whose stock price soared significantly.

Initially, Changsheng Bearings had already begun to see an uptick in its stock price before the Gala performance airedHowever, after the holiday break, the growth became more pronounced, and it is now common knowledge that the rapid increase in Changsheng's valuation is largely connected to the debut of "Yango" and the surrounding hypeAccording to data, from the beginnings of last year’s market fluctuations until February 18, 2025, Changsheng's stock surged a staggering 547.38%, making it the fourth highest increase among all companies listed on the A-share marketTheir market capitalization grew from a modest 4 billion yuan to approximately 24.593 billion yuan, an impressive addition of 20 billion yuan in just a few months.

Changsheng Bearings' ascent can be traced back to the decisive moment when Sun Zhihua made a bold choice to leave his job at a state-owned factoryWhen the then-young entrepreneur embarked on his journey in 1988, starting with just a mere 100,000 yuan borrowed funds, his decision was met with skepticism from his colleaguesSun transformed a derelict factory and acquired some nearly obsolete hydraulic presses to create the Jiaxing Metal Plastics Self-lubricating Bearings Joint Factory, focusing on self-lubricating bearings—an innovative and potentially lucrative area in the manufacturing sector.

Self-lubricating bearings are essential components that require little to no lubrication, making them ideal for various applications like construction machinery, automotive, transportation, and hydraulics

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Sun Zhihua's choice to focus on this technology was based on his belief in its vast market potential, and within a year, he renamed his venture to Jiaxing Oil-free Lubrication Bearing Factory, stepping up in leadership as the plant managerBy 1995, he had firmly established Changsheng Bearings Co., which now stood as a significant player in the industry.

By 2003, ideological differences with his management team at the oil-free bearing plant led Sun Zhihua to fully commit his efforts to Changsheng BearingsMeanwhile, the oil-free bearing plant underwent complex ownership changes to become one of Changsheng's competitors, Shuangfei GroupThroughout the early years of his journey, two milestones made Sun particularly proud: a breakthrough in automated sintering technology for composite materials and a significant improvement in the materials formulation for self-lubricating bearings.

These innovations took time, with two years dedicated to developing the first automated sintering production line for steel copper powder and PTFE, massively enhancing product quality as a resultAchieving advancements in composite material formulations, recognized as the core technology within the self-lubricating bearing industry, allowed Changsheng to increase sales to over 50 million yuan by the year 2000—a clear signal that they were on the right track.

In 2007, Changsheng Bearings successfully created a lead-free self-lubricating bearing—pioneering a path to international markets amidst global restrictions on lead usageBy the time the company went public in 2017, international revenue had climbed to constitute 56.16% of their total income, showcasing their far-reaching impact.

Recently, the surge in the new energy vehicle sector has prompted Changsheng to collaborate closely with Tesla, integrating their self-lubricating bearings into the various models produced by the automotive giantAs advancements in humanoid robotics technology reached remarkable heights, Changsheng found itself gaining increasing interest as a key supplier of vital components in this rapidly evolving field.

The partnership with Yushu Technology illustrates how the robotics concept has significantly influenced the stock market, and on December 23, 2024, Yushu launched a short promotional video showcasing their latest robot, the Unitree B2-W

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The next day, Changsheng’s stock hit the trading ceiling, marking a euphoric response from investorsThe video demonstrated the robot’s agility and capacity to perform complex movements such as flipping and climbing on uneven terrain—a display that even caught the attention of tech mogul Elon Musk, who shared the clip.

With the impressive performance at the Spring Festival Gala bolstering public interest, many analysts believe that Yushu Technology has solidified its place as a global leader in humanoid robotics hardware, further enhancing Changsheng Bearings' reputation as a crucial player in this market segmentBearings serve as indispensable components within the pivot joints of humanoid robots, directly impacting their flexibility, stability, and smooth operationThe self-lubricating bearings from Changsheng, known for their strength under impact and load without needing additional oil supplies, contribute significantly towards reducing noise levels during robot operations, simultaneously lowering manufacturing and upkeep costs and prolonging service life.

As disclosed in their recent half-year report from 2024, Changsheng Bearings has been collaborating with several primary robotics manufacturers and related suppliers to develop tailored products, notably focusing on the application of sliding bearings within robot jointsAlthough the current revenue generated from these robotics-related products remains slightly below 1%, Changsheng is expanding its strategic focus in the field.

The emergence of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot, presented to the public in September 2022, has sparked heightened interest in screw product applicationsChangsheng Bearings boasts a significant stake in Chuzhou Warner Transmission Technology Co., which specializes in developing essential components for new energy vehicles and produces 500,000 sets of ball screws annuallyWith profound technical expertise in the screw domain, Changsheng is poised to continue making headway in this technology.

As Changsheng Bearings continues to explore opportunities within the robotics market, the company has highlighted this sector as a promising area for future endeavors

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