Guangdong Blue Sky Plastic Products Co., Ltd. (Blue Sky) was founded in 1988 and is a professional manufacturer engaged in the research and development of plastic household daily necessities, mold manufacturing, injection molding, and sales. The company covers an area of over 67,000 square meters, with modern workshops of more than 100,000 square meters, modern loading and unloading platforms, an ultra-large raw material storage warehouse, and a large group of high-precision injection molding machines, as well as an intelligent unmanned production workshop. The company is committed to technological innovation and brand strategy development. With strong production capabilities and rich industry experience, it has now become a leader in the domestic household daily necessities industry.

02 First Witness ofNew Energy Efficiency and Productivity

As a long-term partner of Haitian, Blue Sky has had full confidence in the quality and technological innovation of Haitian’s products over the years. Therefore, when Haitian launched its fifth-generation technology, Blue Sky was quick to embrace this new technology with a forward-looking vision, opening a new chapter of energy efficiency and productivity.

Now, let’s join Yang Moulu, Assistant to the CEO of Blue Sky, to see how Blue Sky is leveraging these machines to achieve a win-win in production efficiency and environmental benefits.

02 A New BenchmarkThe Fifth-Generation TechnologyLeading Green Benefits

Upon entering Blue Sky’s workshop, 122 Haitian injection molding machines were lined up, working intensely and orderly. Each injection molding machine, with its excellent performance, demonstrates Blue Sky’s relentless pursuit of product quality and production efficiency. Among them, the newly introduced Haitian JU fifth-generation injection molding machines stand out. Under the efficient operation of the JU fifth-generation machines, chairs are precisely formed, smoothly demolded, and produced like flowing water.

After a year of use and precise testing, Yang Moulu from Blue Sky told us, “For a chair weighing 1,300 grams, it used to take 66 seconds to produce with a third-generation machine, but the JU fifth-generation machine can achieve a production cycle of about45 seconds.” 

This reduction of 21 seconds significantly improves production efficiency, showcasing the fifth-generation injection molding machine’s precise control over time costs and extreme pursuit, bringing substantial benefits to Blue Sky.

Equally impressive is the excellent energy-saving performance of Haitian’s fifth-generation injection molding machines. With the same screw and clamping force tonnage, strict energy consumption comparison tests show that the fifth-generation machines are 24% more energy-efficient than the third-generation machines. This figure is not only a leap in technology but also a responsibility and contribution to the environment.

03 HT·XTEN DA New Era of Production

In addition to significant efficiency and energy-saving effects, the HT·XTEND equipped on the fifth-generation injection molding machines has also brought unprecedented convenience to Blue Sky. Blue Sky’s frontline technicians can easily capture production data through the extensive intelligent functions with HT·XTEND, enabling fine analysis and scientific optimization, which is crucial for further improving production efficiency and product quality. Not only does this align with the development trends of modern manufacturing, but it also lays a solid foundation for Blue Sky’s long-term development.

Moreover, the fifth-generation injection molding machines from Haitian have also won Blue Sky’s favor with their outstanding stability and dsurability. During long-term operation tests, these machines consistently maintained a high-efficiency and stable working state, providing strong support for Blue Sky’s continuous production.

As one of the first users of Haitian’s fifth-generationinjection molding machines, Blue Sky is activelydemonstrating its relentless pursuit of quality and in-novation. The collaboration has not only brought significant improvements in production efficiency andcost savings to Blue Sky but set a new benchmark forthe entire industry.

Today, Blue Sky has fullyimplemented the use of Hai.tian’s fifth-generation injection molding machinesand has shared its successful experience with theentire industry. Looking ahead, we hope that Haitianand Blue Sky will continue to collaborate, exploringmore possibilities and jointly writing a new greenchapter of sustainable development.

Recently, the two-platen Haitian Jupiter 88000, a superlative injection molding machine, was officially delivered to France. After the handover ceremony in October 2023 in Ningbo, China, the machine successfully arrived in France in August 2024 after months of careful planning and international logistics and was smoothly installed and commissioned at the BELLI factory.

Official Delivery of the Haitian JU8800T Ultra-Large Injection Molding Machine in France

The Haitian JU88000 is the result of the know-how and hard work of Haitian engineers at every stage of development, from design to production. With its impressive clamping force of 88,000 kN and an injection capacity of 134,000 cubic centimeters, it sets a new record in the injection molding machine industry and marks a significant breakthrough in injection technology in large-scale machine manufacturing.

The massive transportation operation, included 17 trucks delivering the machine and peripherals parts weighing a total of 800 tons. It is also the first time that such a large-scale machine has been shipped from China to a European industrialized country, significantly enhancing China’s competitiveness in high-end markets and marking a new milestone for Haitian manufacturing on a global scale.

The Transoceanic Journey of the Haitian JU8800T Ultra-Large Injection Molding Machine

The Haitian team faced the challenges of transporting equipment over long distances and with high weight through different countries and made tremendous efforts to ensure the safe and smooth arrival of this “giant”. The transportation required a tailor-made sea freight plan and careful planning and execution of every detail of the cross-border transport.

Assembly and installation on site

Upon arrival in France, Haitian’s technical team from Germany, Serbia, China and SAS Haitian France immediately began the intensive assembly and commissioning work. From disassembly to assembly and installation, every step was carried out with the utmost care and precision.

With 9 engineers working continuously for 5 weeks, the Haitian JU88000 was successfully installed and is now ready for operation at the BELLI plant of Nurieux (01 FRANCE) increasing his capacity to produce packaging, houseware and garden/house environment goods. Throughout the process, the Haitian team was in close contact and collaboration with the French customer to share this important moment of delivery.

Official Delivery

The successful installation and delivery of the Haitian JU88000 injection molding machine to France not only represents a major breakthrough for Haitian in the injection molding machine industry, but also provides valuable technical experience for the global plastics processing sector.

Founded in Shenzhen in 2005, Zhejiang Bicom Optics Co., Ltd. specializes in the precise manufacturing of optical components, focusing on high-quality optical products for the LED lighting, automotive lighting, and security industries. With a robust array of over 130 injection molding machines, BICOM’s annual output value has exceeded 300 million RMB. This success has earned them widespread recognition and cooperation from numerous internationally renowned automotive lighting manufacturers, including Marelli, Hella, and Valeo, continuously showcasing strong growth momentum and market competitiveness.

Recently, we had the privilege to visit BICOM and embark on a journey exploring optics with General Manager Zhou Yun.

1. Optical journey: Customized Solutions Lead Transformation

Since its inception in 2005, BICOM has focused on the design and manufacture of optical components, particularly in the fields of LED and automotive lighting. The manufacturing of optical components demands extremely high precision and stability from the equipment. Facing the market’s stringent requirements for high precision, high transparency, and weather resistance of optical products, BICOM began seeking more specialized solutions.

In 2015, leveraging its extensive technical expertise and profound understanding of optical products, Zhafir custom-designed a series of optical-specific machines for BICOM. These machines not only ensured the optical performance and quality of products like optical lenses but also demonstrated exceptional scalability and stability.

As a result, BICOM began extensively adopting Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines to replace the previous general-purpose injection molding machines. Currently, Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines account for more than half of the factory’s equipment, significantly enhancing production efficiency and product quality, thereby boosting market competitiveness.

2. Specialized Customization: Upgrades in Optical Manufacturing

With the rise of the new energy vehicle industry, the design of automotive light guides has become increasingly complex, demanding higher flexibility and adaptability from injection molding machines. Zhafir’s custom-designed optical-specific machines for BICOM have adeptly met the production needs of irregular molds and transparent optical products. Their specialized design and configuration have brought a qualitative leap to manufacturing.

The specialized machines offer not only ultra-large mold capacity but also flexible injection units that can select different screw capacities based on the actual weight of the products, achieving optimal process control. This is particularly important in the light guide industry.

Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines have also undergone customized improvements to core components based on BICOM’s actual usage. For screws, an optical-grade screw was developed to effectively prevent quality issues such as product yellowing and black spots, meeting the high standards of transparency and quality required for optical products. For motors, a high-load design was adopted to address the overheating problem of traditional motors during long-term operation, ensuring the continuity and stability of the injection process. Additionally, this motor design provides strong support for producing thick-walled optical products.

Over the years, Zhafir’s customized services andtechnological innovations have perfectly aligned withBlCOM’s needs. Each upgrade reflects an unwaveringpursuit of optical performance, providing a solidfoundation for BlCOM’s technological leadership andmarket competitiveness in the optical componentmanufacturing field.

At the intersection of light and technology, the storyof Zhafir and BlcOM continues. In the future, we wilcontinue to work hand in hand, tirelessly striving fo)technologicalinnovation,advancing the manufacturing technology of optical components, and continuously exploring newapplications ofinjection moldingtechnology in optics. This collaboration aims to pro.vide new ideas and solutions for the development ofighting systems in new energy vehicles.

Chongqing Yufa Intelligent Technology Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Yufa”), headquartered in Chongqing, is a company integrating R&D, design, production, sales, and service of plastic household products. Currently, it has four production bases in Chongqing Dazu, Qijiang, Shapingba, and Changsha, Hunan, covering a total area of about 200,000 square meters. With a complete production system, more than 300 fully automatic injection molding machines, and 1,500 employees, the household production line is highly automated and large-scale, making Yufa a leading enterprise in the plastic household products industry.

In Chongqing, a land of industrial activity on the banks of the Yangtze River, Yufa has grown from a small workshop to a plastic household products company with four production bases over 24 years.

Since its establishment in 2000, Yufa has always adhered to the philosophy of continuous improvement, constantly exploring higher-end and more refined production methods. In this process, Haitian, with its advanced equipment and comprehensive service system, has become an excellent partner for Yufa, providing full support to help Yufa create intelligent production workshops, significantly enhancing production efficiency and product quality.

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit Yufa’s headquarters in Chongqing and discuss with Chairman Cai the smart manufacturing upgrade and quality secrets of the household products industry.

Stepping into Yufa’s smart workshop feels like entering a factory of the future. Here, more than 300 Haitian injection molding machines are operating busily, precisely controlling every production process to ensure product quality stability and consistency. Rows of robots work uniformly and efficiently on every task, and the automated production lines achieve a high degree of scale and automation. Every detail reveals Yufa’s persistent pursuit of quality.

The cooperation between Yufa and Haitian began in 2004. “I am from Zhejiang, and I have heard of Haitian since I was young. Choosing Haitian makes me feel very assured,” Chairman Cai recalled. For Yufa, choosing Haitian is not just selecting a brand, but also fully trusting its strong R&D strength, technical expertise, and continuous innovation drive.

After 20 years of collaboration, this sense of trust has only deepened over time. Haitian injection molding machines are not only durable and stable in performance but also flexible enough to meet various production needs. This allows Yufa to handle both large orders and customized products with ease, thus making Haitian machines an indispensable core force in daily production. The cooperation between Yufa and Haitian has also become increasingly close.

As the cooperation deepened and facing the increasing quality demands of the industry, Haitian tailored the HA/ara series for deep cavity household product solution for Yufa. This model, while inheriting all the advantages of traditional Haitian machines, further innovates by adopting high-efficiency plasticizing components, achieving a leap in plasticizing capabilities. Precise temperature control and optimized screw design significantly improve production efficiency and product molding quality. Moreover, a larger mold opening stroke meets the needs of special deep cavity product processes.

The innovation of specialized machines perfectly matches Yufa’s pursuit of high-end manufacturing and lean production. With its high efficiency, excellent cost-performance ratio, and outstanding stability, the specialized machine quickly became the main force on Yufa’s production line. The development of specialized machines is a reflection of Haitian’s strategy of “Technology to the Point”.

Meanwhile, the construction of smart workshops by Yufa and Haitian Smart Solutions is also a major achievement of their cooperation. From centralized material supply systems, AGV intelligent transfer vehicles, “Go Factory Pro” MES systems to robots, a series of intelligent introductions have enabled Yufa’s production workshops to achieve high automation and informatization management. This not only reduces labor costs but also improves production accuracy and stability, achieving a significant leap in production efficiency.

Every investment here is transformed into tangible output. Chairman Cai expects, “We should be able to recoup the costs in three years.”

The story of Yufa and Haitian is a journey of trust, cooperation, and continuous innovation.In the futureHaitian will deepen R&D and innovation in thehousehold products industry, actively exploringnewer intelligent manufacturing models, helpingcustomers to further expand its market, and contrib.uting to the standardization and transformation ofthe industry.

As technology continues to upgrade and evolve, Haitian will also strive to develop more industry-specifidsolutions, focusing on the technical needs of different sectors, and working with customers from various industries to explore broader market.

Changzhou Nanyuan Plastic Co., Ltd., founded in 1991, covers an area of 48,000 square meters. It is a private enterprise specializing in the production and sales of plastic cap products, as well as the design and manufacture of plastic cap molds and blow mold barrels. Nanyuan serves multiple sectors including petrochemicals, food and beverages, and medical industries.

With its keen market insight and continuous innovation, Nanyuan Plastics has successfully set a benchmark in the plastic cap industry. Recently, we had the privilege to visit this industry-leading company to discuss the development trends of the plastic cap industry and engage in an in-depth exchange on cutting-edge injection molding technologies.

1. From Hydraulic to Electric

At this point, Nanyuan discovered Zhafir electric injection molding machines from Haitian International. Nanyuan quickly favored Zhafir machines for their efficiency, stability, and cleanliness.

2. A Win-Win of Greenness & Products

Driven by the “dual carbon” goals and domestic environmental policies, the packaging industry is trending towards thinner and lighter products. As product weight decreases, the requirements for injection molding machine stability and injection speed increase.

The stability and injection speed of Zhafir electric machines enable Nanyuan to easily meet these challenges. This results in lighter products, significant reductions in production cycle time, increased yield, reduced resource waste, and compliance with environmental regulations, achieving a win-win for both product upgrades and environmental protection.

3. Intelligent Upgrade & New Production

Additionally, Nanyuan has adopted the “Go Factory Pro” intelligent operation system from Haitian Smart Solutions, integrating intelligence into every production stage. Through Haitian Smart Solutions’ intelligent scheduling and real-time monitoring functions, Nanyuan can more accurately track production progress and product quality. This system ensures stable pressure and temperature during normal operation and allows for timely detection and resolution of production issues through data analysis. As a result, product stability and yield are effectively improved, bringing significant benefits to the company and raising product quality to a new level.

Over the years, Nanyuan Plastics has become aleader in the plastic cap manufacturing field, drivenby its persistent pursuit of quality and forward-looking technological vision. lts advanced productionmodel and excellent product quality have garneredwidespread acclaim within the industry.

Looking ahead, Haitian and Zhafir will continue toprovide Nanyuan with cutting-edge technical sup.port.Together,we are committed to technological in.novation and industrial upgrading, exploring moreintelligent and sustainable production models, anddriving the plastic cap manufacturing industry to newheights.

Citylong Technology Development Co. Ltd. , established in 1990, (hereinafter referred to as “Citylong”) has always focused on the home furnishing sector. Today, Citylong is a leading domestic enterprise combining research, development, production and sales in the home furnishing industry. Citylong has two main production bases in Tianjin and Xuzhou, and a global sales network covering various regions.

With the increasing demand for a higher quality of life, there are significant opportunities for storage products in the market, and China is expected to become one of the largest markets for storage and furnishing products in the world. Recently, we had the pleasure of having a conversation with Mr. Pan from Citylong, discussing the development of the storage products industry and exploring the current trends and demands in the home living sector.

1. Producing with precision: Craftsmanship to perfection

It is not an easy task to create products that are recognized by consumers enabling companies to enter a market. For now over 30 years, Citylong has been committed to the housewares industry. Behind its rise as an industry leader is a commitment to strict quality control and continuous product development. Through independent innovation, Citylong has driven the comprehensive introduction of whole-home storage solutions and achieved a leading position in the industry.

Entering Citylong’s production facility, the entire factory is equipped with fast-cycling Haitian and electrical Zhafir machines. Since the 1990s, Citylong has been a true supporter of Haitian machines.

Citylong has always been exploring new machines and technologies, continuously improving injection molding equipment and pushing the limits of quality. Mr. Pan told us, “Every time a new Haitian machine is introduced, we want to be the first company in the civil goods industry to use and test it.” At present, the total number of Haitian machines at all production sites is over 300, and it can be said that the continuous investment and development of Haitian machines are proof that Citylong is working tirelessly to improve product quality.

2. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement: achieving industrial advantages

In recent years, competition in the industry has intensified. Cost has become a major issue that many companies cannot escape. Mr. Pan explains, “In the past two years, we have almost exclusively purchased fast-cycling or electric machines. In particular, the high-speed machines can fully meet our energy-saving requirements. Although the initial investment for electric machines is higher, they do offer significant advantages in terms of total cost accounting. The initial investment can be amortized within two or three years.

In discussing other reasons for choosing Haitian, Mr. Pan mentioned that Haitian’s after-sales service, customer communication and support are customer-oriented, which is a significant advantage over other manufacturers. This is a key factor backing up Citylong’s decision to choose Haitian.

3. Fast response: seizing new online growth opportunities

Currently, e-commerce platforms have become one of the key sales channels for the home storage market. In addition to the opportunities presented by the online market, there is also the challenge of improving the flexibility of the company’s supply chain. “Nowadays, customers are very demanding. When they place an order, they expect delivery within three to five days. Last year, we had a unique special order, a multi-million dollar order that required fast delivery. The customer searched with all domestic industrial companies, but none could meet their expectations. Thanks to our advanced equipment, we were able to accept and execute this order,” said Mr. Pan. Haitian’s fast delivery of high-speed machinery gave Citylong the hardware support and strong drive it needed to meet even the most difficult challenges.

Group Photo

On its journey to quality, Citylong spares no effort and strives for perfection at every step. The high standard of product quality, advanced production facilities and the advantage of a fast supply chain have contributed to Citylong’s remarkable success in the Household industry. Haitian will continue to accompany Citylong in its pursuit to shape homes for its consumers with beautiful memories of a cultivated life.

Vietnam Kai Guang Plastics Co. was established in 2008, located in Singapore Industrial Zone No. 2, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, covering an area of 40,000 square meters, specializing in the development and production of various kinds of lotion pumps, ROLL-ON, bead bottles and other daily chemical packaging. The company now has a dust-free and constant temperature plant of 12,000 square meters, equipped with 99 sets of injection molding machines, 20 sets of ball making equipment, and 3 fully automated assembly lines for lotion pumps, ensuring 100% product testing of the production line.

Along with the accelerated economic recovery of Vietnam, more and more enterprises grasp the opportunity and set up factories in Vietnam. Recently, we had the honor of visiting Vietnam Kai Guang Plastics Co., to discuss the new market opportunities in Vietnam.

Haitian：Why did you choose to invest and build a factory in Vietnam?

Kai Guang Plastics: First, Vietnam’s tax incentives are an important factor attracting us to invest and establish a presence. Second, we provide support to numerous multinational companies, such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and others. They all have factories in Southeast Asia, so there are a lot of synergies to invest here. Third, Southeast Asia is a very broad market, with immeasurable economic potential and market size, we hope to obtain greater development here.

Haitian：Your first machine was a Haitian injection molding machine？

Kai Guang Plastics: Our first injection molding machine was not Haitian. At that time, when we first came to invest, we directly transferred the old machines from China to use. Our company’s predecessor is a Taiwan factory, so initially, we used machines from Taiwan. But as time goes by our machines have been gradually replaced by Haitian machines.

Haitian：How did you get to know about Haitian in Vietnam?

Kai Guang Plastics: Haitian Vietnam has made investments in land acquisition and factory construction in Vietnam almost concurrently with us. Moreover, our proximity as neighbors cultivates a strong and intimate bond between our organizations. There are many companies come to Vietnam to invest, but there are not many companies like Haitian that can provide quality assurance and efficient after-sales service. In as little as 5 minutes after a phone call, Haitian’s after-sales service personnel will arrive and help us in the “last mile” of service. Haitian’s efficient after-sales service has become an important factor and stable anchor for our daily production, and injected more certainty for us to take root in Vietnam market.

Haitian：After years of use,what is your evaluation of our machines？

Kai Guang Plastics: We are very satisfied with Haitian. Especially noteworthy is Haitian’s profound understanding for local clients. Haitian has undertaken extensive localization explorations in the Vietnamese market, resulting in customized technological solutions and service experiences for us. One example: Haitian’s machine interface is available in Vietnamese, which our previous equipment supplier could not provide such a considerate service. In addition, Haitian’s machines are easy to work with the surrounding automation equipment, which can bring one-stop solutions.

Haitian：What is the current machine start-up rate?Is the production condition satisfactory?

Haitian：Do you have any outlook for the future?

A customer visit to Emperor Mouldings B.V. in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Brothers Maarten and Peter Keijzer, heads of Emperor Mouldings B.V., embody a new generation of injection molders: focused, efficient and relaxed – with a new understanding of work-life balance. In the Zhafir Zeres Series, they see the best prerequisites for making injection molding processes as efficient as possible and driving production automation forward.

Growing up in his parents’ injection molding business, Maarten Keijzer knew very early on that he wanted to run an injection molding company. The fact that his father then sold the business turned out to be a good decision in retrospect, as Maarten quite inevitably had to found and build up his own company. He took this step in 2019, initially alone, but since 2022 his brother Peter has been completely on board.

Both had precise ideas from the start: “No employees for as long as possible, but to bring production to the maximum, so far that we can still manage everything with just the two of us.” The main products are clips of agricultural use; the end customers are greenhouse operators. In addition to the agricultural industry, they still supply the commodity sector and technical parts. The bottom line is that they focus exclusively on small shot weights in high volumes. This is because highly efficient processes, “production-friendly” products and automation in places where it is worthwhile and serves the work-life balance are important to them. Maarten Keijzer: “I certainly experienced many things in my father’s company that I wanted to do differently. The principle ‘Only those who work hard will make it’ may have had its justification in those days. Today, we have other options. In the age of digitalization and its tools, it’s easier to design efficient and lean processes.” The recently introduced automated foiling of cartons is a good example of this, he said. “This robot saves us a lot of valuable time.” They are currently considering an AGV, which would then take the full cartons out of the magazines at night, increasing piece counts.

Passion for technology: Maarten (left) and Peter Keijzer with a Venus model made of Lego that they added robotics and peripherals to.

About meaningful growth and scalability

Since its founding in 2019, Emperor Mouldings B.V. has grown steadily, in output, turnover, set-up. “If the demand is there, it would make no sense not to grow,” the Keijzers agree. “But always with moderation and purpose.” Nevertheless, growth is not generally the big goal, they say; rather, they are concerned with the “sporting challenge” of spraying the maximum number of products with the existing machines and their 2-man power. “There is room for eight machines in our production. That’s still a size we can handle with two people. And should the market require more, we’ll see how far we can go with our manpower.”

Growth in this, their sense, presupposes that processes are optimized for maximum efficiency. That cycle times are reduced to the maximum and 24/6 non-stop operation runs smoothly to the maximum, with a clearly focused product group: simple small parts in large quantities.

Accordingly, they have aligned their machinery and supplemented it with pinpoint accuracy. The heart of production is currently formed by five electric Zeres machines with four times 900 and once 1,200 kN clamping force (another is on order). All run with integrated controls (Success Series 7 and 11) from Sepro Robotics. The molds are equipped with external hotrunner systems from PSG, and a specially programmed error-stop function intervenes if the temperature in the metering unit is too high. This also guarantees them near-zero error production at Emperor Mouldings. Original quote Maarten Keijzer: “We’ve had just 1 carton of rejects so far in 2022.”

“The electric Zeres fits very well with our philosophy: technology to the point for production to the point. The price-performance ratio is also unbeatable in our eyes. Our first 90-tonne Zeres has already gone through more than 6 million cycles without a significant malfunction.” Maarten Keijzer, Emperor Mouldings B.V.

Performance against rising energy costs

While the young company has come through the pandemic relatively well and relaxed, the energy crisis is having an even more serious impact on its core market, the Dutch agricultural industry. Rising energy prices are likely to bring many greenhouse owners to their knees, by next winter at the latest. “Our warehouse is full and the market is saturated for now. That means that of our machines, only two out of five are currently running. The reason for this is that the agricultural industry is suffering extremely from rising energy prices and many end customers have already announced that they are closing their greenhouses for the winter.” The two brothers nevertheless take the situation calmly: “A crisis is also always an opportunity. Up to now we’ve had full capacity utilization, now we’re using the quiet phase for new customer acquisition, internal projects that have fallen behind, or we’re happy to have more family time.”

Of course, rising energy costs are also making themselves felt in their own injection molding operations, but their stringent decision to use electric machines and the low shot weight of the small parts keep their energy consumption within limits. In any case, they optimize their injection molding processes for maximum energy savings to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible.

First certified industrial compostable clipring made of PLA’

Apart from that, they keep on working on continuous automation of production, keyword: increasing efficiency. “The electric machines are a tremendous help for us to produce in this high efficiency. Our father had hydraulic machines, he still had to ramp them up with some lead time and wait until the oil temperature was right, sort out some cycles of scrap and so on. We turn our Zeres family on Monday morning and don’t turn them off until Saturday night. Machines and the Success line from Sepro are an ideal match. From the first shot, production is error-free,” explains Maarten Keijzer.

In his opinion, another important building block for higher efficiency is material-optimized processes, in which he gained valuable experience in his previous job at a material supplier. “Our injection units are all equipped with a shut-off nozzle, so we can maximize parallel functions during energy-intensive plasticizing. Every second saved has an immediate impact on energy costs.”

In addition to all their commitment to energy savings and efficiency, they are equally consistent in working on their production-side sustainability. From starting with 100% virgin raw material at startup time, they are now at nearly 100% recycled and compostable material.

When asked about concrete visions or dreams for the near future, the answer is rather down-to-earth: “Two days away from the company, but everything continues to run” – that’s a good vision. But of course they are well aware of the challenges ahead and want to face them. And who knows, “maybe we’ll become the smallest smart factory in Europe.”

Info box

Production profile of Emperor Mouldings:

• All Zeres machines run smoothly in 24/6mode;
• All machines are equipped with automation;
• During the day, the machines are serviced and processes optimized if necessary; at night, they produce unmanned;
• Only small parts with a high number of pieces are produced.

Cultivating opportunities in crisis to find a way out

In the past, China’s traditional manufacturing industry stood out in the international competition by virtue of its low cost advantage. However, with the disappearance of the demographic dividend, the high cost of raw materials, and the constant international trade friction, manufacturing companies are in a difficult situation. But how to find a way to break the situation?

Faced with this problem, Linyi Huafeng Sealing Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Huafeng”) dares to transform and continues to expand the new direction of the industry, and cooperates with Haitian to break through the low-end manufacturing chain and extend towards both ends of the “smiling curve”.

Dare to transform and develop with “a smile”

At the two ends of the rising “smiling curve” of traditional manufacturing industry, the upstream is technology R & D, the downstream is brand marketing and service, and the sinking middle zone is the assembly and manufacturing with the lowest added value. The original Huafeng was in this sinking zone.

The development of Huafeng has experienced three stages. In the first stage, namely, the production of solar water heater accessories, Huafeng had its first cooperation with Haitian with its high standard requirements for quality. In the second stage, namely, the production of electronic supporting products, with the transformation of the industry, Huafeng’s requirements for quality were upgraded again, and the stability and precision of the equipment were constantly highlighted. In this case, Huafeng began to introduce Zhafir electric injection molding machine one after another.

Shi Zhihua, Chairman of Huafeng

Shi Zhihua, Chairman of Huafeng, told us that Zhafir electric injection molding machine have the advantages of energy saving, high efficiency and precision. Main benefit is precision, which reduces the rate of defective products, and increases our yield rate from 95% to about 99%. Especially for thin-walled products and products with high dimensional accuracy requirements, the advantages are immediate. In terms of energy saving, Zhafir has saved 30% to 40% of electricity costs. In addition, Zhafir’s stable process shortens commissioning, and reduces the pressure of factory management, greatly improving the efficiency of Huafeng, and bringing higher benefits to Huafeng and its customers. The added value of Linyi’s overall manufacturing products is relatively low, but Huafeng does not only insist on using the best equipment, but also spares no expense in equipment investment, and makes every effort to forge ahead to the upper end of the industry. So far, Huafeng has officially entered the high-efficiency and precise manufacturing stage, becoming the “Bellwether” of the local traditional manufacturing industry.

The advantage of “Bellwether” did not make Huafeng stay in this comfort zone. With the arrival of the industrial 4.0 era, Huafeng once again thought calmly, reviewed its own shortcomings, and found a way out. In 2015, Huafeng increased investments in upgrading injection molding equipment, opened the digital intelligent transformation of the new plant, and prepared to build a supporting mold workshop, extending Huafeng from the bottom of the “smiling curve” to the design and manufacturing of molds and allowing it to deeply participate in the product manufacturing process, and complete the integration of the industrial chain. Relying on many years of design and manufacturing experience in the field of rubber and plastic seals, Huafeng has unique advantages in mold development and product production. With this core competitiveness, Huafeng has formed close cooperation with international top brands in the commodity industry at the design and manufacturing ends of the industrial chain.

Chairman Shi Zhihua and General Manager Zhang Linhong of Linyi Haitian discuss technology

It is reported that the giant firm is famous for its strict requirements on product quality. Shi said: “customers have very strict requirements on product quality. In the whole process, it is necessary to control the materials and components contact in every process. The screw and barrel of the injection molding machine has to be well surface-treated with no black spots or harmful substances left. During this period, Haitian provided Huafeng with a lot of technical support, and pre-sales and after-sales support. Through two-way cooperation with Haitian, Huafeng further narrowed the technical gap between it and international brands.”

Sports cup cover (multi-component process)

In addition, Huafeng is constantly looking for new opportunities in the industry. In the fields of LSR（Liquid Silicone Rubber）, multi-color and multi-component injection molding, Huafeng increases its investment in multi-component equipment. Its sports water cups and other products have begun to be manufactured by multi-component injection molding process. “Two-shot molding has brought visual impact to the consumer. Now more and more industries are developing in the field of multi-component injection molding. Zhafir multi-component injection molding solutions can save us a lot of time, reduce assembly costs, and fully meet our production needs.”

Sports cup cover (multi-component process)

Never quit until the goal is reached

Transformation is difficult, but initially seeking breakthroughs can lead the industry. The story of transformation and upgrading is still ongoing at Huafeng. In the future, Haitian will help more manufacturing firms to extend to both ends of the “smiling curve” with an open, cooperative and win-win attitude to realize transformation and upgrading.

The Olympic Games are major sporting events of international standing, meticulously planned from the opening ceremony to the final. The demands on everyone involved are extremely high, and security has top priority. Behind the scenes, high-level equipment suppliers ensure smooth operations, including a Haitian International customer.

GRANDCHESS DAOAN CO., LTD manufactures and distributes intelligent traffic safety equipment as well as identification and detection equipment and is one of the leading companies in the industry. As the sole accredited cable bridge supplier for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, GRANDCHESS provided the temporary power supply there for the mega event – over a total length of around 50,000 meters.

Professionalism tipped the scales

Song Jiading, General Manager at GRANDCHESS, believes that their acceptance as an Olympic supplier is inextricably linked to the company’s high level of professionalism, because safety is paramount at the Olympic Games. In any case, he says, the company has always defined its own strict standards. In order to meet even higher production standards, existing injection molding machines were gradually replaced with Haitian Mars Series. That was in 2017, and the company has since mastered various tests and EU certifications, and its products are increasingly in demand in Europe, the U.S., Japan and many other countries. They have also won over the IOC.

As a safety product, a cable bridge is subject to extremely strict standards. The 4.5 kg elastomer cable bridges are made of high-strength rubber and high-quality PVC, with very high demands on material flow, surface, color quality and appearance. This requires high injection rates with precise temperature control. In addition, special requirements applied to insulation, compressive strength (more than 50 t), flame retardancy as well as cold resistance at minus 30 degrees.

Faster, higher, further – even beyond the arenas.

Concludes Song, “Haitian’s performance, including their smart manufacturing solution, was a valuable asset for timely delivery. They were very instrumental in making this project a success.”

A success that is sure to reverberate for some time to come: Tests by the responsible authorities have shown that numerous product parameters of the GRANDCHESS cable bridges far exceed the project requirements set by the IOC and mark a new level of quality.

Statement:
“The timeframe for the entire process was tight, yet the quality requirements were higher.”
Song Jiading, General Manager at GRANDCHESS

Pic Parts:
The 4.5 kg elastomer cable bridges are made of high-strength rubber and high-quality PVC.

Pic machine hall:
At work: ten highly efficient Haitian Mars Series from 14,000 to 16,000 kN.