In Chenxi Industrial Development Zone, Hunan Xulian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Xulian Technology” hereinafter) has made inroads into the global market with a small converter, opening a new chapter in China’s intelligent manufacturing.
(Busy production workshops at Xulian Technology)
From a follower to a pacemaker
In spring, Chenxi Industrial Development Zone is lush with greenery and brimming with vitality. Sunlight streams into the production workshops of Hunan Xulian Technology Co., Ltd. through the windows. In the workshops, production lines are running in an orderly manner. The company’s star product is converter. With an annual export volume of RMB210 million, this seemingly unremarkable product is making inroads into the international market.
What is so magical about this converter? As the demands for office work become more and more diversified, people have a stronger desire for efficient office work. How to instantly turn a laptop into a multi-screen workstation to improve office efficiency? This converter offers a perfect solution. Whether you are writing long documents, making complex tables, or editing videos while looking up information, having an extra screen is like driving from a single lane to a highway, which greatly improves efficiency without any congestion. With such a practical function, the converter becomes the magic weapon for Xulian Technology to go global.
(Converter, the magic weapon for Xulian Technology to go global)
Xulian Technology is a high-tech enterprise specializing in computer peripherals, 5G screen mirroring devices, high power supplies, and other products. The company is extremely concerned about quality in the production process. On the assembly line, quality inspectors hold precision instruments, and the values on the display screen are accurate to 0.01 mm.
In the exhibition hall of Xulian Technology, Liu Yun, the company’s general manager, handed a converter that passed the EU RoHS certification to the reporter. Recalling the challenges they encountered in passing the US UL certification, Liu still felt a flood of emotions. He said that to meet the certification requirements, the team worked 16 hours a day for three consecutive months. Instead of simply adjusting the size, they comprehensively reconstructed the system to enhance material fire resistance and electromagnetic compatibility.
In the production process, Peng Wenbin, the QA manager, pays constant attention to incoming inspection, process inspection, and open-box inspection. As far as Peng is concerned, a 99% pass rate is a basic requirement. They aspire to exceed the expectation of European and American customers. The test report shows that more than 20 indicators of the product, including pressure resistance and fire resistance, far exceed international standards. Over the past three years, there have been no product quality complaints in overseas markets.
(More than 20 indicators of Xulian Technology’s products, including pressure resistance and fire resistance, far exceed international standards)
“We are very confident that our standards have far exceeded those of European and American countries, and Chinese products have set an industry benchmark.” Peng Wenbin said proudly.
From passively aligning with international standards to actively defining industry standards, Xulian Technology has achieved a qualitative leap. As a supplier of leading enterprises such as Xiaomi, every product of Xulian Technology must meet high international standards.
“We want the world to see the hard power of Huaihua and even Chinese products through Xulian Technology.” Liu Yun was quite ambitious.
Relying on more than 100 Chinese patents, the company has formed a solid technological moat. At present, the company has 20 production lines, producing 7,000 devices per day. More than 90% of the products are shipped to Germany, France, the US, Dubai and other places through its Shenzhen branch by sea and by air, with an annual export tax rebate of more than RMB10 million.
From a workshop in Chenxi to an international hub
Back in 2018, Huaihua Xutai Electronics Co., Ltd., the predecessor of Xulian Technology, mainly engaged in front-end wire processing, with only about 30 people on the team.
With the rapid development of science and technology, the manufacturing sector ushered in a wave of innovation, transformation and upgrading. Tapping into the market trend, the company adjusted its strategic planning and development direction in 2021. After a year of in-depth research and painstaking preparation, Liu Yun, founder of the company, re-established the company in his hometown and changed its name to “Hunan Xulian Technology Co., Ltd.”, aspiring to contribute to local development.
This marks not only a name change, but also great changes in the company’s vision, goals and business areas.
Xulian Technology also boasts a unique talent strategy.
After Li Zhiyong, head of the company’s PMC team, was transferred from Shenzhen to Chenxi, the local government thoughtfully opened an education green channel to help his children gain admission to top schools in the county.
“I used to drift in Shenzhen, living in a rented room. Now, I live in Chenxi, in my own house.” Li Zhiyong’s experience is a vivid testament to how the company retains core technical personnel. In the past, even undergraduates were unwilling to join the company; at present, overseas returnees with a master’s degree are seeking employment with the company. The company uses patent barriers to build a technology hub and improves people’s livelihood to offer a human touch. “Reversing brain drain” is no longer a slogan.
Thanks to its unremitting efforts, the company has successfully transformed and upgraded from a wire processing enterprise to a high-tech enterprise integrating independent R&D, production, and sales that offers 5G projection devices, energy storage power supplies, high power supplies and other products, in addition to simple wires.
In August 2024, Xulian Technology made a key move in strategic planning. The company will expand into the global market with its new smart power strips, converters and other products with the help of Huaihua International Land Port.
Speaking of going global, Liu Yun was quite excited: “Compared with traditional logistics routes, transportation costs can be reduced by 18%, and product competitiveness will significantly improve.” In the past, products needed to be transported by way of Shenzhen, with long shipping time and high costs. At present, the new western land-sea corridor helps increase the logistics efficiency by 20% and reduce costs by 18%.
(Xulian Technology will expand into the global market with its new smart power strips, converters and other products with the help of Huaihua International Land Port.（Photos by Gong Yan and correspondent by Tang Xia from Huaihua Daily)
Huaihua International Land Port not only helps reduce the freight rates. When the channels for going global are moved 300 kilometers inland, the industrial chain will be reconstructed. This inland port allows enterprises in the mountainous areas of western Hunan Province to finish customs declaration on the doorstep and enjoy one-stop services for going global, which is expected to save more than RMB3 million in logistics costs each year.
Huaihua International Land Port is like a bridge, connecting Xulian Technology with the global market and injecting new vitality into the development of enterprises.
“In the trend of relocation of industries, Xulian Technology did not simply apply the models of coastal regions. By making technological breakthroughs, the company has opened up new arenas in development.” Liu Yun told the reporter that in the future, the company plans to use the Huaihua International Land Port to further open up channels for going global, so as to achieve “local R&D, Huaihua manufacturing, and global sales”. From Xulian Technology’s practice, we see how the inland region develops open economy and how Chinese products go global and satisfy consumers.
From a small workshop in Chenxi to a renowned enterprise in the global market, the story of Hunan Xulian Technology Co., Ltd. continues. With innovation, quality and persistence, the company has established a good image of Chinese products in the global market and provided valuable experience for the development of more inland enterprises. It is believed that in the future, Xulian Technology will continue to make a difference in the global market and create more high-quality Chinese products.
（Translated by Professor Yu Jie)