Our Story

Tongjiang's history starts with hand tools, not machines. In 1987, a private workshop in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, began making wire rope by hand under the name Tongjiang Wire Rope Factory. Three decades later, that workshop has grown into Jiangsu Tongjiang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., a certified manufacturer supplying three of China's largest heavy-equipment makers.

The milestones below trace that path: from manual production to mechanized manufacturing, from domestic-standard rope to Euro-standard construction, and from a single factory to an exporter serving Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Australia.

Milestones at a Glance

Origins: Hand-Made Rope, 1987 to 1991

Tongjiang Wire Rope Factory began operations in 1987 as a private workshop in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. Rope was produced by hand, a labor-intensive process that limited output but established the manufacturing know-how the company would build on for the next three decades.

Mechanization and Early Growth, 1992 to 2002

In 1992, the company introduced advanced domestic manufacturing equipment and moved from hand production to mechanized manufacturing. The Tonggong trademark, registered in 1996, gave the company its own brand identity in the domestic market for the first time.

Import Replacement and Market Leadership, 2003 to 2012

Tongjiang developed compacted-strand wire rope in 2003, followed in 2004 by the first domestic mass production of face-contact (line-contact) wire rope. By 2006, the company's 6- and 8-strand rope had replaced imported product in construction machinery applications. By 2008, Tongjiang held more than 50 percent of the domestic market for piling applications. In 2012, the company developed Euro-standard multi-layer-strand wire rope, replacing another category of imported product with a domestically manufactured equivalent.

A New Name and a New Standard, 2017 to Present

The company was renamed Tongjiang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. in 2017. The new name reflected a shift toward specialty and high-end wire rope production. In 2020, Tongjiang was recognized as a Jiangsu Province High-Tech Enterprise. Two years later, in 2022, the company began supplying wire rope directly to three of China's largest heavy-equipment manufacturers: Sany Heavy Industry, Zoomlion, and XCMG. Those relationships continue today.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was TJ Steel Rope founded?

In 1987, as Tongjiang Wire Rope Factory, a private workshop in Nantong, Jiangsu Province that produced wire rope by hand. The company was restructured under its current legal name, Tongjiang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., in 2017.

How did TJ Steel Rope grow from a hand workshop to an export manufacturer?

Growth came in stages: mechanized production in 1992, the Tonggong trademark in 1996, compacted-strand rope in 2003, domestic mass production of face-contact rope in 2004, import replacement in construction machinery by 2006, more than 50 percent domestic market share in piling by 2008, and Euro-standard multi-layer-strand rope in 2012. The company was renamed in 2017, recognized as a Jiangsu Province High-Tech Enterprise in 2020, and began supplying major domestic OEMs in 2022.

Which Chinese heavy-equipment manufacturers has TJ Steel Rope supplied?

Tongjiang has supplied wire rope directly to Sany Heavy Industry, Zoomlion, and XCMG since 2022. One documented example is the Sany SR265 rotary drilling rig project at Suzhou North Station, where 2,120 meters of TG32mm 916 EPIWRC 1960 rope was installed across 38 pile foundations over a 27-day program with no issues reported.

What was TJ Steel Rope's original product, and how has it changed?

The company began in 1987 producing wire rope by hand. Production mechanized in 1992, and the product range expanded over the following decades to include compacted-strand, face-contact, and Euro-standard multi-layer-strand rope. Today Tongjiang manufactures constructions from 4-strand through 35-strand at diameters from 6mm to 80mm, a range built on the manufacturing capability developed since 1987.

Is TJ Steel Rope the same company as Tongjiang Wire Rope Factory?

Yes. Tongjiang Wire Rope Factory, founded in 1987, is the same company operating today as Jiangsu Tongjiang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., renamed in 2017. TJ Steel Rope is the name used for international sales and export markets.