Stage 4 Nanjing：From Kangni to Nanjing Ming City Wall

Jen Chen | 11. April 2025

Nanjing Kangni Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd (Kangni) is a leading domestic R&D and manufacturing base for rail vehicle door systems in China, widely recognized as “the first door of China’s rail transit.” In the global market, Kangni’s products are also highly competitive, enjoying strong visibility and influence.

Since its products are used in high-frequency rail transit systems such as high-speed trains and subways, Kangni places extremely strict demands on system components, requiring a minimum service life of 10 years. After extensive testing and trials, they chose igus for its outstanding wear resistance. The selected components include energy chains, bearings, cables, lead screw nuts, etc.

Through technological innovation, Kangni spent 17 years overcoming core technical challenges and breaking industry monopolies. With a commitment to quality, Kangni has integrated the principles of “zero defects” and “zero waste” into its intelligent manufacturing philosophy. Its rail transit door systems have achieved the highest safety level of SIL4, with reliability far exceeding industry standards. Kangni is now expanding its focus into new energy vehicle charging connection systems, where it has already secured a notable share of the market.

Engineer Liu Runmin from Kangni Technology Center was also thrilled to try out igus’s milestone innovation – the plastic eco-friendly bike, and said “It feels great!”

After leaving Kangni, Chad and Trevon followed the Qinhuai River to Nanjing’s 600-year-old Ming City Wall and the Grand Bao’en Temple, which was once hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World. They all suffered destruction and fallen into ruin, but now, like the igus:bike, they have been brought back to life.

Our rider: Trevon Pan

Hi, I’m Trevon, a Sales Engineer in Nanjing, China. For over 600 years, the Nanjing Ming City Wall has stood in silent witness to history. Today, it shares the frame with igus motion plastics—where ancient heritage meets modern innovation. Together, they echo themes of plastic recycling, low-carbon mobility, and a peaceful, sustainable life.

Our rider: Chad Chen

Hi, I’m Chad, a Sales Engineer in Nanjing, China. Today, we rode bicycles made of recycled plastics into Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties. It’s a dialogue between historical heritage and modern materials.

Map of the tour