Analysis of Key Steps and Process Essentials in the Factory Prefabrication Stage of UHPC Curtain Wall Panel Production

Driven by the dual forces of contemporary architectural aesthetics and engineering technology, UHPC facade panels are becoming the preferred material for landmark building skins thanks to their ultra-high strength, outstanding durability, and rich sculptural expressiveness. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP, Qinglong Group deeply understands the decisive impact of the factory precasting stage on final facade quality. This article systematically analyzes the key process nodes in the precast production of UHPC facade panels, revealing how standardized processes and technological innovation ensure that every panel becomes a perfect carrier of both architectural art and engineering safety.

1. Material Mix Optimization: The Genetic Code of UHPC Performance

The first step in precast production is to establish a precise material formulation system. UHPC facade panels require strict control of the gradation of base materials such as cement, silica fume, and ultra-fine quartz sand, and the method of steel fiber incorporation directly affects the panel's flexural strength (typically required to be ≥20MPa). Relying on its provincial-level R&D center, Qinglong Group applies orthogonal testing to optimize the mix proportions, enabling the material to meet the lightweight requirement of facade panels as thin as 20mm while withstanding long-term wind pressure and thermal stress. Notably, for projects in different climate zones, fiber content and admixture types must be adjusted—for example, adding air-entraining agents in cold regions to improve frost resistance, a detail-oriented control born of 28 years of engineering experience.

2. Mold Engineering: The First Line of Defense for Shape Precision

The mold is the core vehicle for realizing the shapes of UHPC facade panels. CNC-machined steel molds ensure component dimensional tolerances within ±1mm, while for complex shapes such as double-curved surfaces and openwork patterns, Qinglong introduced 3D printing technology to produce master molds, combined with a vacuum infusion process to achieve millimeter-level replication. Mold surface treatment is equally critical: nano-coating technology reduces the adhesion between UHPC and the mold, minimizing demolding defects. In the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, Qinglong achieved seamless joining of translucent UHPC facade panels thanks to its high-precision mold technology, and the project won the Silver Award at the first UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Awards.

3. Casting and Curing: Cultivating Strength and Durability

The casting stage requires high-frequency vibration and vacuum degassing technology to ensure concrete density and reduce internal air pores. Qinglong's independently developed automated material distribution system achieves uniform material placement and prevents steel fiber agglomeration. In the curing stage, a combination of steam curing and constant temperature-humidity curing chambers enables rapid development of UHPC's early strength, with 28-day compressive strength stably exceeding 150MPa. For large-sized facade panels (such as single-curved panels over 6 meters), stepped cooling curing is adopted to effectively control the risk of cracking caused by thermal stress—a process already validated in the GRC project of the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center.

4. Quality Inspection: A Safety Barrier with Full-Process Traceability

As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong has established a full-inspection system covering everything from raw material intake to finished product shipment. In addition to routine compressive and flexural strength testing, ultrasonic flaw detection and rebound hammer tests are used to assess the internal quality of components, and each facade panel is numbered and embedded with an RFID chip to enable full life-cycle traceability. For overseas projects such as a landmark building in Malaysia, additional salt spray corrosion tests and ultraviolet aging tests are conducted to ensure products meet international standards. This rigorous quality control is precisely what has made Qinglong a strategic partner of renowned real estate groups such as Poly and China Overseas.

Factory precasting is the core link in the quality control of UHPC facade panels, and its process level directly determines the safety and expressiveness of the building skin. Drawing on 28 years of professional expertise, Qinglong Group deeply integrates detailed design, precision manufacturing, and intelligent inspection. It has not only participated in the development of industry standards such as the “General Technical Conditions for Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Non-Load-Bearing Components,” but also provides global architects with full-chain solutions from concept to completion through intelligent production lines with an annual capacity of 600,000 square meters. Driven by its mission of “Creating Beautiful Architecture,” Qinglong is using technological innovation to advance UHPC facade panels toward thinner, more durable, and more artistically expressive forms, contributing more building skin works that combine safety and aesthetics to city skylines.