Zhoushan Jinqiu Machinery Co., Ltd., an enterprise in the High-Tech Zone of our city, has achieved a critical precision breakthrough in the field of cast film machine manufacturing—from 1.5 microns to 1 micron. Its independently developed high-performance low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) casting equipment has reached internationally advanced levels in all indicators, successfully filling a domestic gap and becoming a shining star among our city’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises. Behind this substantial achievement lies Jinqiu Machinery’s two decades of unwavering focus and dedication.
The entrepreneurial journey of Jinqiu Machinery is a story of challenging limits with craftsmanship. More than 20 years ago, faced with the exorbitant price of over 10 million RMB for a single set of high-end foreign cast film machines, General Manager Li Qiuyuan made a resolute pledge: “What foreigners can make, Chinese can make too.” This marked the beginning of their journey to replace imports with domestic alternatives. In the early stages, the company relied on electroplating and precision parts processing to accumulate capital, yet consistently invested over 15% of its annual revenue into cast film machine R&D. From ±5 microns to ±3 microns, and then to ±1.5 microns—each seemingly modest improvement was forged through countless sleepless nights in the workshop and numerous repeated experiments. As Li Qiuyuan aptly put it, the final breakthrough to 1 micron “is like going from a score of 98 to 100″—the last 2 points demand the ultimate test of technology, patience, and perseverance.
This breakthrough has not only enhanced the company’s competitiveness but also propelled the development of the entire industry. Holding over 20 patents, ranking among the top ten domestic companies in the field, with an annual production capacity of more than 30 units, and supplying products to top-tier research institutes and listed companies such as the Ninth Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and Tian Tong Holdings—Jinqiu Machinery has earned market recognition and respect through its strength. Its equipment performs on par with internationally advanced levels while being priced over 50% lower, not only breaking the long-standing monopoly of foreign brands but also delivering tangible benefits to downstream customers, effectively advancing the independent development of domestic high-end equipment. The success of Jinqiu Machinery vividly embodies the essence of “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises: dedicating unwavering focus to niche fields and winning market influence through continuous innovation.
Today, Jinqiu Machinery’s new factory site, spanning over 60 mu (approximately 4 hectares), is undergoing renovation and commissioning, with production capacity set to double. Li Qiuyuan’s declaration to “make better products and challenge higher limits” exemplifies the spirit of excellence among entrepreneurs in our city—a spirit that serves as a core driver for the high-quality development of our city’s manufacturing sector.
The story of Jinqiu Machinery offers valuable inspiration to the many enterprises in our city, especially small and medium-sized ones: even in traditional manufacturing sectors, by upholding craftsmanship, pursuing continuous innovation, and daring to break through, companies can carve out their own space in niche markets and achieve the success of “little giants.” We look forward to seeing more enterprises like Jinqiu Machinery in our city—making incremental progress, accumulating small gains to achieve great strides—and collectively writing a new chapter in the high-quality development of our city’s manufacturing sector. When countless “micron breakthroughs” converge into a powerful current, they will surely paint a magnificent blueprint for our city’s industrial upgrading.
(Source: Zhoushan Daily | Original article)
