CCTV “Credit China” | Exclusive Interview with HWAPENG: Intelligent Equipment Manufacturing Driving the Advancement of Advanced Materials

Carbon materials are fundamental to the development of strategic emerging industries, including photovoltaics, semiconductors and new energy vehicles. Often referred to as the “industrial grain” of the new energy economy, they provide an essential foundation for the entire value chain.

 Yet the production of these critical materials has long faced significant challenges, including safety risks associated with harsh operating environments, a lack of integration between equipment modernization and digital transformation, dependence on imported complete high-end equipment, and insufficient domestic manufacturing capabilities. These constraints have limited the industry’s ability to achieve large-scale, high-quality development.

How can breakthrough technical innovation overcome long-standing industry barriers and accelerate the domestic substitution of high-end equipment? How can intelligent equipment manufacturing be deeply integrated with artificial intelligence and industrial digitalization to address the industry’s most pressing challenges?

Recently, Wang Yi, Chairman of Shandong HWAPENG Precision Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 838861, hereinafter referred to as HWAPENG), was invited to the CCTV “Credit China” studio on CCTV Old Story Channel for an in-depth interview with renowned host Dong Qian as part of the special feature “Rising Chinese Brands.” The discussion focused on innovation and the future development of advanced carbon equipment technologies.

The interview focused on key topics including independent innovation in complete carbon equipment solutions, domestic substitution of high-end imported equipment, digital and intelligent transformation, global market expansion, enabling the high-quality development of the advanced materials industry, and responsible corporate governance. It also presented HWAPENG’s 24-year journey of innovation in core equipment solutions for carbon materials and its long-standing commitment to advancing industrial development through technological excellence.

During the interview, Chairman Wang Yi outlined HWAPENG’s corporate development strategy and shared his in-depth perspectives on the industry’s future, opening the discussion with a clear and compelling statement:

“In my view, high-end equipment forms the foundation of industrial development. Only through independent innovation can China’s new energy and advanced materials industries build genuine long-term technological strength and global competitiveness.”

This statement reflects Chairman Wang Yi’s clear understanding of the industry’s current landscape and the strategic direction that HWAPENG has consistently pursued for the past 24 years.

For many years, HWAPENG has remained committed to its mission of advancing industry through manufacturing excellence, guided by the vision of becoming a leader in digital and intelligent equipment and technologies for China’s industrial sector. Upholding the core values of Customer First, Innovation, Excellence, Integrity, Collaboration and Determination, the company embodies its brand spirit of continuous innovation and transformation, turning technological breakthroughs into lasting value for the industry.

In 2003, Wang Yi’s father founded HWAPENG, which initially specialized in equipment for the oil industry.

Following China’s accession to the WTO in 2001, Wang Yi and his father recognized the strategic opportunities emerging in the carbon equipment industry and decisively repositioned the company. At that time, core technologies for carbon equipment were dominated by European and American manufacturers, while high equipment costs, long delivery lead times and expensive maintenance resulted in the industry’s heavy reliance on imported solutions.

Guided by the simple belief that “If others can achieve it, so can we,” Chairman Wang Yi has remained deeply committed to advancing carbon equipment technologies, dedicating himself to overcoming long-standing technological barriers.

If transformation was a strategic choice, then technological breakthrough became a defining battle for the company’s future.

The core production process for carbon materials includes raw material preparation, mixing and kneading, forming, and baking. For graphite anode materials used in electric vehicle batteries, the manufacturing process is further divided into crushing, granulation, screening, graphitization and other stages. Among them, graphitization represents the most technologically demanding process and accounts for 40–50% of total production costs, making it the critical stage of the entire value chain.

HWAPENG’s technological breakthroughs are built around two core technologies.

The first core technology is the High-Efficiency Preheating, Kneading and Cooling System — an innovative engineering approach beyond the traditional technology path.

Mixing and kneading is one of the most critical processes in carbon materials manufacturing, and the related equipment technology had long been dominated by a German hidden champion. Rather than following the established technological approach, Chairman Wang Yi developed an alternative engineering solution based on a profound understanding of the underlying process. At the time, many industry experts believed that this approach could not be successfully scaled for industrial production.

Technological breakthroughs address the question of whether something can be achieved. Digital intelligence, in turn, focuses on how to do it better.

Chairman Wang Yi believes that the future of equipment manufacturing lies not in hardware alone, but in the deep integration of hardware, software, perception technologies and embodied AI.

Building on this strategy, HWAPENG has established a dual-engine product portfolio combining integrated core equipment with digital intelligence systems for the carbon materials industry. The portfolio spans the entire production process—from raw material handling, preheating, mixing and kneading, cooling, forming and cleaning to digital solutions including industrial internet platforms and intelligent robotic systems.

This integrated end-to-end equipment and digital intelligence solution significantly improves overall operational performance, reduces reliance on manual operations, enables customers to accelerate process innovation, and ensures the coordinated advancement of equipment modernization and digital transformation.

Among these innovations, the AI-powered carbon block cleaning system, developed under the leadership of Chairman Wang Yi, represents another industry first for HWAPENG. By combining AI-based machine vision with robotic automation, the system replaces manual cleaning operations in high-temperature and high-dust environments, eliminating potential safety hazards under harsh working conditions while greatly boosting overall production efficiency.

We specialize in complete high-end equipment solutions for the carbon materials industry. Through intelligent equipment manufacturing, we empower strategic emerging industries—including photovoltaics, semiconductors, and new energy vehicles—helping Chinese high-end equipment reach the forefront of global industrial innovation.

Guided by this vision, HWAPENG has expanded beyond a single market segment by leveraging decades of expertise in carbon materials processing technologies and proprietary core innovations. Starting at the equipment level, the company addresses critical gaps across the industrial value chain, providing advanced equipment solutions that support the high-quality development of China’s new energy and advanced materials industries.

Chairman Wang Yi has repeatedly emphasized: “High-end equipment is the cornerstone of industrial development.”

Focusing on the production requirements for high-performance graphite used in advanced materials, semiconductors and nuclear energy, HWAPENG has independently developed kneading and vacuum hydraulic extrusion systems covering the full production process for ultra-high-power graphite electrodes and high-performance specialty graphite. These solutions have broken long-standing overseas monopolies. Today, the equipment is adopted by leading global enterprises including POSCO, demonstrating the successful large-scale international deployment of China’s high-end integrated carbon materials equipment.

Enabling China’s high-end equipment to compete at the forefront of the global industry.

Chairman Wang Yi understands that as Chinese high-end equipment enters global markets, success depends not only on superior technical performance, but also on consistent delivery capabilities and reliable long-term operational support. Behind every exported system stands HWAPENG’s fully integrated capabilities, spanning R&D, manufacturing, delivery and after-sales service.

HWAPENG is currently advancing two strategic initiatives in parallel: the development of an industry-first intelligent end-to-end production line for new energy and advanced materials and the global expansion of its product portfolio. The company’s international market presence now extends across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

No matter how advanced a technology may be, if it fails to reach the market, its value is zero.

Chairman Wang Yi understands that the greatest challenge facing China’s high-end equipment is not a technology gap, but a gap in market confidence.

“Why should customers trust a new Chinese brand?” This was the question HWAPENG encountered most frequently during its early market expansion.

To overcome this challenge, Chairman Wang Yi adopted a dual-track strategy combining technical validation with commercial value. First, HWAPENG earned the confidence of chief engineers through superior technical performance and proven operating data. It then secured the support of executive decision-makers through compelling cost advantages and highly localized services.

In practice, HWAPENG’s equipment is priced at approximately one-third of comparable international solutions while delivering equivalent—or even superior—performance. The company also provides tailored lifecycle support, from on-site commissioning to production optimization. Delivery is not regarded as the end of a project, but the beginning of a long-term partnership that enables customers to operate their equipment with complete confidence.

From a small manufacturer of oilfield equipment to the market leader, with more than 60% market share in its core business across China;

From learning alongside Germany’s leading hidden champions to reshaping the industry through the industrial internet and AI-powered industrial robotics—

Over the past twenty-four years, Chairman Wang Yi has led HWAPENG on a complete journey—from a technology follower to an industry leader.

His vision of the future is equally clear:

We do not seek to replace anyone, but to define the next generation of technology.

Carbon materials are the “industrial grain” of the new energy era. HWAPENG forges the plough that cultivates this vital resource. From breakthrough technical innovation to digital intelligence integration, from domestic substitution to global expansion, Chairman Wang Yi and HWAPENG have built the solid equipment backbone of the new energy materials industry through the unwavering perseverance of industrialists and continuous exploration by practitioners of China’s intelligent manufacturing.