Qingdao Zhonghong Heavy Machinery: Intelligent Equipment Heads Towards a New Blue Ocean of “Smart Mines” Worldwide

Deep within the mines of Central Asia, unmanned mining trucks “Made in Qingdao” are showcasing the charm of Chinese manufacturing. In the vast open-pit copper mines of Kazakhstan, a group of massive mining trucks, under precise commands, move orderly between the mine shaft and the stockpile, while the driver’s cab remains empty. This is a real-world example of the remote-controlled and unmanned equipment independently developed by Zhonghong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhonghong Heavy Machinery”) in operation. With the deepening implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the mines of Central Asia have become an international stage for China’s high-end intelligent equipment to shine. Zhonghong Heavy Machinery, a company that originated in Qingdao and has expanded globally, uses innovation as its engine to drive its “intelligent equipment” into the new blue ocean of global “smart mine” construction. In the wintery Laixi Economic Development Zone, the production workshop of Zhonghong Heavy Machinery is a hive of activity. CNC machine tools operate with precision, and workers shuttle busily between production lines as underground mining trucks destined for Central Asia undergo final adjustments. Wang Yijie, Deputy General Manager of Zhonghong Heavy Machinery, explained, “This order was added by a customer in Kazakhstan. In 2025, our exports to the Central Asian market exceeded 50 million yuan, 2.5 times that of 2024, and orders are still increasing.” Despite the pressure on global trade, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery has achieved growth against the trend. Chairman Ning Xiaofeng’s entrepreneurial journey is a microcosm of the transformation of China’s equipment manufacturing industry. In the 1990s, China’s mining industry developed rapidly, but very few companies could independently develop and produce high-end mining equipment. The trackless mining equipment, heavily reliant on imports, was expensive, and the supply of spare parts was lagging. In 1991, Ning Xiaofeng resigned from his secure job and, with his wife Ma Chunyan, founded a trading company, starting by establishing an international supply chain for equipment spare parts. In 2008, Ning Xiaofeng led the company into the manufacturing sector, focusing on the independent research and development of trackless mining equipment. In 2013, the first loader successfully rolled off the production line and was exported overseas, selling well in the international market due to its excellent cost performance. Subsequently, the company refused acquisition offers from multinational giants, insisting on its own brand. In 2018, the 14-ton cable loader was successfully launched, making China one of the very few countries in the world capable of producing large-scale trackless mining equipment. In 2019, investment from Luxin Capital injected momentum into its overseas business expansion. Today, nearly 40% of Zhonghong Heavy Machinery’s revenue comes from the international market. Zhonghong Heavy Machinery’s market competitiveness stems from its pursuit of core technologies. In 2019, the company achieved a breakthrough in its independently developed remote/automated unmanned driving system, enabling “one driver to remotely and precisely control one to three pieces of equipment simultaneously,” revolutionizing traditional mining operations. In 2020, in collaboration with top domestic universities, it developed an integrated system platform, providing a technological foundation for mine development. These core technologies have transformed Zhonghong Heavy Machinery from an equipment provider into an enabler of comprehensive smart mine solutions. Currently, the wave of smart mine construction is sweeping the globe. Zhonghong Heavy Machinery’s unmanned driving equipment, remote control systems, and intelligent management platforms have become powerful tools for solving pain points in the mining industry such as “difficulty in recruiting workers, high safety risks, and low management efficiency.” Against the backdrop of rapidly increasing mining demand in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery, with its innovative products and smart solutions, has become a key partner for mining companies. Demand from emerging markets such as South America has also provided a broader stage for its global expansion. Since 2019, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery has improved its global layout and enhanced its localized service capabilities. By establishing overseas subsidiaries, the company can quickly respond to market demands, conduct customized product development, and collect market information to guide technological innovation. Today, its overseas service network covers major market regions. Looking to the future, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery is focusing on intelligent mining and new energy equipment. Ning Xiaofeng stated that as global mining depths increase and environmental requirements become increasingly stringent, intelligentization and low-carbonization are inevitable trends in the industry. The company plans to become a dual leader in the intelligent mining field in both China and the international market within the next five years. From parts trading to independent R&D and manufacturing, from breaking foreign monopolies to leading industry development, from the domestic market to a global layout, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery has completed a magnificent transformation in thirty years. This manufacturing company, rooted in Qingdao, is driving “intelligent equipment” and accelerating into the new blue ocean of “smart mines.” Ning Xiaofeng, Chairman of Zhonghong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd., remarked that the more difficult the innovation, the more valuable it is. For over 30 years since its establishment, Zhonghong Heavy Machinery has persevered in innovation despite numerous difficulties. In the new year, the company will strive to repay society and the nation with even better performance, and hopes that governments at all levels can provide more assistance to help the company go further.