Stage 2 From PATAC to Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding
Jen Chen | 11. April 2025
Jason rode the igus:bike to two prominent companies located in Pudong.
Our first stop was Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Co., Ltd. (PATAC), which is the first Sino-foreign joint venture dedicated to professional automotive design and development in China. After years of development, PATAC has built end-to-end capabilities in complete vehicle development, including vehicle architecture, styling design, and powertrain systems. The company has taken proactive steps in areas such as electrification, intelligent mobility, and vehicle connectivity, establishing a comprehensive new energy control system development platform. It now has the capability to develop a full range of new energy vehicle products, from mild hybrids and full hybrids to plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles.
PATAC holds a special place in the history of igus. It was innovation that first brought the two companies together, leading to a groundbreaking collaboration—the first-ever use of e-chain systems on a mass-produced vehicle, marking a milestone in the automotive industry. The vehicle in question is the iconic GL8, which is widely recognized in the automotive market. This meaningful partnership has now lasted for over a decade. Today, Jason returned to PATAC with igus’ latest innovation—the igus:bike. Old friends at PATAC, including Engineer Meng from the design team and the head of the material recycling project, showed great interest in the igus:bike, which is made entirely from recycled plastics.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. was the first shipyard in China to break the 2-million deadweight ton mark in annual shipbuilding volume, and later became the first to surpass 8 million DWT per year. It’s a key player in both scale and specialized shipbuilding. One of its most remarkable achievements is the Adora Magic City, which set sail on its maiden commercial voyage on January 1, 2024. Built entirely at Waigaoqiao, this ship is China’s first large cruise liner developed independently, marking a historic breakthrough for the country’s cruise ship manufacturing industry.
Since Waigaoqiao Shipyard built its first super-large gantry crane in 2000, igus has been its trusted supplier of power systems. In recent years, the shipbuilding industry has seen a trend toward weight reduction and environmental sustainability, and Waigaoqiao Shipyard is no exception. igus’ lubrication-free products, chainge recycling initiative, and the igus:bike, which is made from recycled plastics, all resonate strongly with the shipyard’s sustainability efforts.
As the conversation moved from the igus:bike to chainge, and then to broader topics like carbon neutrality, customers were once again impressed by igus’ ideas and products.
Tomorrow, you’ll see the igus:bike at the next stop.
Our rider: Jason Qian
Hi, I’m Jason. It’s my pleasure to be part of this meaningful cycling event. As a member of igus, I feel deeply proud of its technological innovations, sustainable approach, and commitment to environmental protection.
Map of the tour
