Kathy Yuan heads the Overseas Marketing Department at Hwapeng, a prominent manufacturer specialising in specialised equipment for carbon plants. The organisation's product range encompasses anodes, cathodes, graphite electrodes, graphite specialities, carbon electrode paste, ramming paste, crucibles, carbon blocks, and other related carbon or graphite products.

AL Circle: Could you briefly overview HWAPENG and its journey in the carbon production machinery industry since its establishment in 1994? What sets HWAPENG apart from other manufacturers in the field of Carbon Paste Preparing & Forming Machines?

Kathy Yuan: When it was founded in 1994, Hwapeng's former name was Hwafeng. At that time, it specialised in petroleum equipment for SINOPEC. Along with the economic development in China, the former CEO realised and discovered the opportunity to manufacture carbon machines for the carbon industry because 30 years ago, the equipment was quite backward for developing the carbon industry. Then, Hwafeng started the journey of manufacturing carbon machinery.

The company made every effort to satisfy customers' demands and improve machinery quality day by day based on customers' feedback. Constant R&D and quality improvement, leading technologies, reliable technical performance, and good reputation in the market are the key factors setting Hwapeng apart from other manufacturers in the same industry. 

AL Circle: How do you foresee the primary aluminium sector shaping up in 2024 globally and specifically within China?

Kathy Yuan: I can’t say I can foresee the primary aluminium in the world, but as far as I know, more and more Chinese aluminium smelters are transferring to Indonesia. This will somehow change the global layout of primary aluminium.

AL Circle: HWAPENG has an impressive track record of innovation with 46 national patents, including 9 invention patents. Could you highlight some key innovations significantly contributing to the company's success?

Kathy Yuan: All of our patents are related to problem-solving at customers' sites and quality improvement of our products.

For example, the patents of "high efficient high-temperature tank", "high efficient heating device", and "accurate temperature measuring device" guarantee reliable heating and temperature control of our equipment. The patent of the "no-leakage sealing device" guarantees that no carbon powder leaks out during operation. The patents of "new type of four-column guiding structure and pressurizing vibrating system", "automatic demolding mould", "forming mould and vacuum hood locking system" guarantee that our vibrocompactor produces high quality green anodes.

We invest heavily in technical innovations, which significantly helps us win more market share. At present, we have a 90% market share in the carbon industry in China.

AL Circle: How does HWAPENG stay ahead in terms of technology and product development amidst rapid advancements in the industry?

Kathy Yuan: First of all, we research and develop along with the development of the industry; for example, we are developing robotic systems and digital machines according to industry demands. Secondly, we hear the voices of our customers, and we especially improve the problems that our customers name.

AL Circle: HWAPENG has set national standards for paste kneading coolers and carbon paste kneaders. How do these standards reflect the company's commitment to quality and excellence?

Kathy Yuan: Yes, we set these two national standards in 2014. As you may know, only the industry leader has the qualification to set national standards, and the national standards are the basis for all Chinese manufacturers of the same equipment to follow. We specify the technical specifications for welding, fabrication, assembling, appearance, test run, acceptance standards, labels, packaging, transportation, and storage in the national standards. We keep abiding by and improving these standards. We are making breakthroughs and going beyond ourselves.

AL Circle: With certifications like ISO9001, ISO14001, and GB/T28001, how does HWAPENG ensure consistent quality, environmental responsibility, and occupational health and safety?

Kathy Yuan: We ensure consistent quality from the beginning to the end. We have strict quality control system and standards for quality inspection of incoming raw materials, all manufacturing processes of products until final test run of the finished products.

Throughout the whole production process in our plant, we have special personnel to focus on environmental protection, a special chamber for painting, and special disposal and treatment of residual paint and other wastes generated in the plant.

We provide all necessary safety protection devices to workers, welding fume disposal devices for welders, periodically perform physical examinations of all workers in medical institutions, and periodically provide training related to occupational health and safety and fire protection. We provide such training for all new staff on their first day entering our plant. All of our employees have a sense of environmental protection, health and safety.

AL Circle: Could you elaborate on HWAPENG's expansion plans and increased market share in China?

Kathy Yuan: HWAPENG will expand from traditional equipment to AI and digital equipment, from the carbon industry to anode materials for lithium batteries, and into the chemical industry. 

AL Circle: How does HWAPENG cater to both domestic and international markets, and what strategies are employed to meet customers' diverse needs?

Kathy Yuan: I think the key is still technical innovation, each domestic or international customer has their specific requirements for each equipment, we always adhere to our corporate value "creating values for customers", so we make all efforts to customize what customers need.

AL Circle: HWAPENG collaborates with renowned design institutes and companies like SAMI, GAMI, and Jin Wo. How do these partnerships contribute to the company's success and innovation?

Kathy Yuan: As you know, these design institutes are world-famous. Basically, for a carbon-related project to start, the design institutes are the most important part; no equipment supplier can work alone without them. HWAPENG has a very good relationship with them. They know us well and are aware of our market share, equipment quality, and performance, and their recommendation is helpful to our success and innovation.

AL Circle: Could you share some insights into HWAPENG's recent projects and collaborations in the aluminium anode, graphite electrode, and electrode paste production lines?

Kathy Yuan: In the first three months of 2024, HWAPENG signed contracts with Pingdingshan Oriental Carbon Co., Ltd. for the production of graphite speciality, Zhongyi Group for production of graphite blocks and cathodes, Xinjiang Chenfeng Carbon Co., Ltd. for production of electrode paste, Xinjiang Nongliushi Carbon Co., Ltd for production of anodes and cathodes, Shandong Pingyin Fengyuan Carbon Co., Ltd for production of anodes, etc. The total contract value in the first three months of 2024 is about RMB 100 million.

AL Circle: What are the emerging trends and opportunities in the carbon production process industry, and how is HWAPENG positioned to capitalise on them?

Kathy Yuan: With the rapid development of the electric vehicle industry, lithium batteries are in very high demand, so many new plants for anode materials of lithium batteries are emerging, which boosts the development of graphite crucibles. Therefore, HWAPENG speeds up the promotion of the paste-preparing system and virbcompactor for producing graphite blocks, which are finally made into crucibles. 

AL Circle: Could you shed some light on HWAPENG's future research, development, and expansion plans?

Kathy Yuan: HWAPENG started researching AI and digital technology in 2020. Some of the research achievements were put into the market, and HWAPENG will continue to research the same.

As mentioned above, HWAPENG will expand from traditional equipment to AI and digital equipment, from the carbon industry to anode materials for lithium batteries, and into the chemical industry.