With the official implementation of the new version of the European Union's "Fluorine-Containing Gas Regulations" (F-Gas) in January 2026, the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) in equipment with voltage levels of 24kV and below is strictly prohibited. This policy not only reshaped the procurement standards of the European power grid, but also triggered a "green reshuffle" of the supply chain of medium voltage switchgear on a global scale.
In this market change driven by environmental protection policies, Tianjin Kechang Electric Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Kechang Electric") has ushered in a significant increase in orders in the European, Middle East and Southeast Asian markets with its long-term layout and perfect qualification system in the field of fluorine-free technology.
SF₆ is known as the "super greenhouse gas" of the electrical industry, and its global warming potential is 23,500 times that of carbon dioxide.The landing of the EU ban means that traditional inflatable cabinets are completely out of new projects in Europe. For overseas buyers, finding a supplier of SF₆-free (sulfur hexafluoride-free) solutions with CE certification and stable delivery has become the top priority at the moment.
"In the past, overseas customers were more concerned about cost performance, but now the first threshold is environmental compliance." The market leader of Kechang Electric said that since the first quarter, the number of inquiries from Europe has surged, and customers have clearly required in the technical indicators that the equipment must use dry air, environmentally friendly gases or solid insulation technology.
Hardcore strength: automated production line and the technical background of the "little giant"
In the face of sudden market dividends, Kechang Electric was able to respond quickly thanks to its long-term technical reserves and manufacturing upgrades.
As a "specialized, special and new" small giant enterprise in Hebei Province, Kechang Electric has not stopped on the traditional technical route. The company predicted the trend of environmental protection as early as a few years ago, and invested heavily in the research and development of environmentally friendly gas ring network cabinets and solid insulation cabinets. In Kechang's digital workshop, the application rate of robot automation equipment has reached more than 80%. This"robot + parameterized programming" production model not only solves the excessive dependence of traditional electrical manufacturing on manual experience, but also ensures that the insulation strength and sealing performance of each export equipment can be maintained at the peak of the order period.
In addition, Kechang Electric has passed the ISO 9001 quality management system and ISO 14001 environmental management system certification. In view of the strict access standards of the EU market, the company's main products have successfully obtained CE certification to ensure that the equipment can enter the European market legally and efficiently, and eliminate customs clearance and compliance risks for customers.
Product adaptation: A green solution with full scene coverage
For different overseas application scenarios, Kechang Electric demonstrated its complete technical route coverage capabilities:
Environmentally Friendly Gas Ring Main Unit
It using dry air with zero GWP (global warming potential) as the insulating medium, it not only fully complies with the EU carbon reduction requirements, but also inherits the advantages of compact structure and maintenance-free traditional inflatable cabinets.
Solid Insulated Ring Main Unit
It using epoxy resin fixation technology and vacuum arc extinguishing technology, the SF₆ air box has been completely eliminated. This design is particularly suitable for alpine, high altitude and coastal high wetland areas, and solves the pain points of gas liquefaction or salt spray corrosion caused by low temperature.
Intelligent Medium Voltage Equipment
Combined with the Internet of Things technology, Kechang's equipment can realize real-time monitoring of temperature, local discharge, etc., to meet the upgrading needs of overseas customers for the intelligent distribution network (Smart Grid).
Conclusion
Industry analysts believe that the EU's environmental protection ban is only the beginning of the global "defluorization" process. With the advancement of the global carbon neutrality goal, SF₆-free equipment will become the mainstream standard for medium voltage power distribution. Tianjin Kechang Electric has passed the combination of "technology research and development + intelligent manufacturing + international standard certification", not only seizing the current export opportunities, but also winning the right to speak in the middle and high-end electrical market made in China.
