YANGZHOU, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: In 2007, a team of HOERBIGER@MOTION visited Yawei for the fi rst time. Back then, the company, which is located in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, and specialized in machine tools, was manufacturing press brakes in a hall that was more reminiscent of an aging machine factory. Five years later, Managing Director Zhibin Leng welcomes us in a new, modern commercial building: it is the calling card of an extremely successful machine manufacturer that utilizes China’s greater accessibility to become positioned among the leading players in the world market. (Page 22) PHOTO: Ingo Bulla PHOTO: ing. 010 011 The press brakes are assembled and packaged for shipping in this huge build Jiangsu Yawei IN THE FAST LANE Machine-Tool Co., Ltd. YAWEI THE NAME SAYS IT ALL It takes just over an hour on the Chinese high-speed train “Harmony Express” and then a short drive over newly graded highways for us to leave Shanghai behind us and make the 150-mile journey to the middle of Jiangsu, China’s most populous province. The historic center of the city of Yangzhou, which is home to four and a !"#$%&""&'($)*+&,*(-+.$/'!+-+$)!%&]$*,$1!(!"+.$23!&(-$!""*4+.$5&1-3)*+23*$!)1 *,$ bridges, and idyllic tea houses: picture-book scenic China. Yet, this is only one face 022 of the city. Its other face is the rich contrasts of traditional and modern styles. TEXT: Ludwig Schönefeld · PHOTOS: Ingo Bulla 023 ust a few miles away, we are standing on production operation is certified according to the meaning “Asia,” and “wei,” meaning “impres- company premises measuring almost international quality standard ISO 9001:2000. sive power.” thirty-six soccer fields large. It is the site The press brakes and stamping and nibbling of Jiangsu Yawei Stock Co. In 2007, a machines produced by Yawei bear the quality Before Zhibin Leng provides us with insights in- team of HOERBIGER@MOTION visited seal of TÜV Rheinland (Rhineland’s Technical to the milestones of Yawei’s success story, he JYawei for the first time. Back then, the company Inspection Association), which from its base in describes his own occupational history. He specializing in machine tools was manufacturing Germany conducts industrial certifications knows the company like the back of his hand. press brakes in a hall that was more reminiscent around the globe. In 2007, Yawei was awarded He has been there for over 20 years, ten of of a shipyard. Five years later, Managing Direc- the coveted “China Famous Brand” status. them in technical management leadership po- tor Zhibin Leng welcomes us in a new, modern sitions. In 2000, the millennium year, he was commercial building: it is the calling card of an In China, Yawei is one of HOERBIGER Automa- appointed Managing Director, which is his cur- extremely successful machine manufacturer tion Technology’s most important customers. rent position with the company. that utilizes China’s greater accessibility to be- The Chinese-European alliance is a win-win sto- come positioned among the leading players in ry for both companies. CNC press brakes made China’s Opening provided the world market. by Yawei, for which HOERBIGER supplies the Access to the World Market hydraulic drives and controllers, a key technolo- The policy of China’s opening toward the world Once leading in Agriculture, gy, earned the coveted “China Top Brand” market—which started at the beginning of the now leading in Machine Tools award back in 2005. Yawei was one of the first nineties—and inspiring success stories moti- The modern CNC press brakes made by Yawei Yawei origins date back to an agricultural ma- Chinese market players to receive this honor. vated numerous state-owned enterprises in the earned the coveted “China Top Brand” award chine factory founded in 1956. Today, the Chi- ten years thereafter to strive for cooperation back in 2005. The press brakes are fi tted with nese company, which is listed on the Shenzhen There is a lot more to the Brand: with leading companies abroad. The objective: HOERBIGER hydraulic systems. stock exchange in South China, is a recognized Asia’s impressive Power “win-win solutions” for those involved. This innovation and technology leader in the ma- A look at the company’s history shows a rapid also applies to Yawei. Initial contacts with chine tools market segment. Its portfolio en- development of the business since 1999. It was HOERBIGER Automation Technology devel- compasses CNC presses, shearing machines, that year that the former state corporation was oped at the turn of the millennium. This evolved stamping and nibbling machinery, and coil privatized and repositioned under the name of into a prime example of a business partnership. winding machines. At present, Yawei has ap- Yawei. The brand is far more than a company In 2011, Yawei and HOERBIGER celebrated the proximately 1,300 employees. Yawei’s growth name. It embodies the corporate vision: Yawei is ten-year anniversary of their close partnership, www.yawei.cc rates far exceed those of the sector average. The composed of the Chinese characters “ya,” which is based on mutual appreciation. Later, during metal forming, the hydraulic systems made by Yawei Managing Director Zhibin HOERBIGER assure Leng has relied on the excellent precision. They are cooperation with HOERBIGER manufactured in for quite some time. HOERBIGER’s branch in Wuxi. PART “The sophisticated technological through regionally tailored advertising and com- Electrohydraulic drive systems and the related control electronics are key 024 munication campaigns. Yawei already has an technologies for modern CNC press brakes. They assure maximum solutions offered by HOERBIGER were international network of 30 distributors in place precision in sophisticated metal forming operations. Over the last few 025 in over 10 countries. decades, HOERBIGER has fitted more than 65,000 CNC press brakes &($+4(1$6&- $'3)$)*23&)*%*(-+$!(,$ with hydraulic systems. Exemplary Leadership: expectations from the very start.” People—a Factor of Success HOERBIGER has perfected the integration of hydraulic components in Zhibin Leng is confident about the future of the system and improved reliability like no other manufacturer. In the Yawei. He relies on the employees in the pro- present systems, the pump, pressure filter and pressure adjustment of Partnership builds on tems allowed us to considerably boost the qual- (Wuxi) Automation Technology Co., Ltd. With cess. They now identify considerably better with the performance module are combined in one control block. Modern con- Expertise and Identity ity and productivity of our CNC machines and respect to the local cooperation, the Managing the company because they are allowed to be trol valves enable optimal sequences of motions and exact positioning. By Yawei uses compact electrohydraulic axes made significantly expand our competitive edge and Director of Yawei appreciates in particular the involved in the company’s success. The leader- regulating the power input, energy is supplied based on load and used by HOERBIGER as the drive system for press cost advantage.” competent support from Allan Zhu, Managing ship style at all levels of management aimed at efficiently. brakes and, in the future, as actuators for stamp- Director of HOERBIGER in Wuxi. Yawei can participation has also resulted in high loyalty ing and nibbling machines. Zhibin Leng reports European Know-how — count on Zhu’s qualified specialists and their among the staff, which is reflected in their dedi- that HOERBIGER’s expertise in this field is what a Strong Argument reliable service. And this is how it should re- cation and the willingness to pursue continuing convinced Yawei right from the start. Since then, integrating European key compo- main: “I look forward with excitement to another education. PART OF nents in Yawei’s machine tools has been inten- decade of close relations,” said Zhibin Leng. He The wealth of experience and personal dedica- sively promoted: European know-how is a strong anticipates that HOERBIGER and Yawei will con- Managing Director Zhibin Leng welcomes us China is one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for CNC press tion of Norbert Poth played a decisive role in this argument, even beyond the Chinese market. tinue to work closely together when it comes to wearing the blue production uniform. The fact brakes in the world. Yet, at approximately 60 percent, the predominant process. One of the Managing Directors at The intensity and significance of this competi- constantly improving existing technologies and that he comes from their own ranks and today is market share comes from machines in the lower segment. The 12th Five- HOERBIGER Automatisierungstechnik GmbH, tive advantage is clearly apparent from Yawei’s developing innovative systems. a successful high-level executive is the reason Year Plan published by the Chinese government in 2011, however, directs he is in charge of business development in Asia. sales figures. Over the last few years, they rose why many employees consider him to be an particular attention to the development of state-of-the-art, high-quality He laid the foundation for the business relation- by 40 percent on average. Investments for example, in the Confucian sense. CNC machines. This creates excellent opportunities and prospects for ship with Yawei ten years ago. additional Market Share ambitious market players like Yawei, as well as for suppliers of key com- While in 2006 Yawei sold 200 CNC press brakes Yawei approved an extensive investment totaling Yawei is far from having played all of its cards. ponents. With great empathy and still deeply impressed, in the market, the number rose to over 1,000 ma- more than 31 million euros just a few months “Ya,” meaning “Asia,” and “wei,” meaning Zhibin Leng recalls the first visit to HOERBIGER chines in the 2011 fiscal year.