One by one, 1.7-meter-long, red-and-green striped mining drill rods with ultra-high torque are neatly stacked in the finished-product area of Henan Zhongyuan Heavy Forging & Pressing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing”), patiently awaiting shipment overseas. This cutting-edge “diamond drill” product—once “held back” by Europe and the U.S.—is now setting sail from Jiyuan City, Henan Province, to reach markets around the world.

After 20 years of dedicated cultivation and meticulous refinement, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing has grown from a “small workshop” into a nationally recognized “Little Giant” enterprise specializing in niche, specialized, and innovative products. Its ultra-high-torque mining drill rods have been exported to more than 20 countries, firmly cementing its position as an “invisible champion.”

In recent years, despite facing multiple challenges—including a complex and volatile domestic and international environment and the persistent imbalance between strong supply and weak demand in traditional manufacturing—Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing has continued to post robust business performance. Amidst fierce and ever-changing competition, how has this private enterprise managed to forge ahead with such resilience? Recently, a reporter from Science and Technology Daily visited Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing to uncover the secret behind its success.

Rooted in niche markets

In the depths of winter, among rows of fragrant camphor trees and French plane trees, the factory buildings of Zhongyuan Forging and Pressing stand quietly. In the spacious and brightly lit modern heavy-duty workshop, various production lines are operating smoothly and in perfect order.

Having devoted more than two decades to his work, Wang Jisheng, General Manager of Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing, has never forgotten the path he took to get here. In October 2004, Wang Jisheng decided to change course and quit his job, starting from scratch with two close friends. Relying on the steel and other manufacturing raw materials from his hometown of Jiyuan, he and his friends founded Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing, entering the equipment manufacturing industry.

“When the company was first established, it had only a little over ten workers and operated in a workshop equipped with just a few simple lathes, producing small forged parts,” said Wang Jisheng. “Although the factory isn’t large, its operators have a broad vision—wherever there are oilfields or mines, that’s where our market lies.”

Shortly after the company was founded, Wang Jisheng began frequently and extensively visiting major oil-producing regions around the world to conduct on-site inspections and negotiations. He also regularly attended top-tier industry trade shows worldwide. Gradually, he honed in on a clear path for the company’s development—focusing intently on high-performance, precision-forged components such as drilling stabilizers. As a result, the company embarked on a new journey toward becoming an “invisible champion” in its niche market segment.

“Rooting oneself in a niche market and cultivating it with dedication is the key to a company’s success,” Wang Jisheng explained. Since its establishment, the company has been focusing on the “narrow yet deep” niche market of high-performance precision forgings and has continuously increased its investment in this area.

In 2008, the company completed the renovation of a 2,500-ton hydraulic press, becoming Jiyuan’s largest privately-owned forging enterprise.

In 2013, the company completed the construction of two branch plants—specializing in heat treatment and petroleum equipment—and became the only privately-owned equipment manufacturer in Jiyuan City that integrates forging, heat treatment, and precision machining.

In 2020, the company invested 55 million yuan to build a precision machining production line with an annual capacity of 1,000 motor shafts, continuously forging new competitive advantages...

Today, stepping into the intelligent workshop of Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing, one sees industrial robots deftly wielding robotic arms to precisely handle glowing-hot billets. Meanwhile, the central control system automatically adjusts the temperature of the heat treatment furnace, ensuring precise and stable temperature control and imbuing each batch of steel products with a consistent “quality gene.” Currently, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing has established a complete industrial chain comprising four major processes—electroslag remelting, forging, heat treatment, oil equipment manufacturing, and mechanical manufacturing—and five subsidiary plants. The company is accelerating its transformation toward intelligent, digital, and green operations, striving to make the leap from “manufacturing” to “intelligent manufacturing.”

Master core technologies

“Even in traditional industries, there is new-quality productive force, and private enterprises especially need to put the new development philosophy into practice.” In Wang Jisheng’s view, it is precisely this long-term approach—“earn one, reinvest one”—that has enabled the company to transform from a small workshop into a modern enterprise and laid a solid foundation for further advancing technological innovation.

Core technology is the “vital lifeline” of an enterprise, and mastering independently controllable technologies was a hurdle that Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing had to overcome from the very beginning of its establishment.

In 2005, in order to break the foreign monopoly in the market for ultra-high-torque mining drill rods, and despite the failure of domestic enterprises and the absence of any relevant experience or technology available overseas, Zhongyuan Forging and Pressing made a firm decision: to “go boldly into the tiger’s den.”

“We’re steadily pushing forward with the tenacity of ‘ants gnawing at bones,’” said Chen Weidong, head of the Central Plains Forging and Pressing Technology Department. After hundreds of sleepless nights of relentless effort, the technical team finally saw the light of day—but overcoming the challenges in heat-treated materials has proven to be a painstakingly slow process.

After comparing a large amount of materials, the company’s technical staff finally discovered that the material used for ultra-high-torque mining drill rods abroad is remarkably similar in performance to a certain type of special steel produced domestically.

Subsequently, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing redefined its new process. After countless trials and refinements, it finally overcame a series of technical challenges. As a result, the product performance not only fully met the standards but also surpassed international benchmarks in certain key indicators.

Relying on this relentless drive, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing achieved product import substitution in 2012 and was also among the first in China to begin mass exports. By 2025, this product had contributed as much as 67% to the company’s profits. Today, the new quality of productivity in the manufacturing sector has already brought exponential returns to the company. According to reports, two out of the world’s three largest mining drilling companies are now using Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing’s ultra-high-torque mining drill rods.

“Science and technology are the primary source of competitiveness, and we must firmly keep key core technologies in our own hands,” Chen Weidong said. Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing already holds three national invention patents and 46 utility model patents, and has been awarded the Second Prize of the Henan Province Science and Technology Progress Award. Relying on technological upgrades, the company has risen to a leading position in its industry.

Expanding territory overseas

Empowered by cutting-edge core technologies, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing has broken into a new blue ocean in the international market, emerging as a rising force that cannot be overlooked in its niche sector.

“I’ll never forget the looks in the eyes of foreign business visitors back then,” said Wang Jisheng. Sixteen years ago, at an oil equipment exhibition held in the United States, some business visitors were deeply skeptical about products made in China.

“At that moment, I made up my mind—I’d definitely create our own high-end products!” Standing in front of the company’s experimental building, Wang Jisheng pointed to the sign reading “Engineering Technology Research Center for Oil-Drilling Stabilizers” and said. For years, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing has consistently integrated quality control into every stage of production. Its product technology and quality have always kept pace with those in Europe and the U.S., and several of its products even surpass international standards. With relentless focus on innovation and precision in quality, the company has continuously honed its strengths, digging deep into what was once considered a narrow market—expanding it from just one meter wide to a depth of a kilometer.

Yang Jingbo, the deputy general manager in charge of production technology and quality at Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing, recalled that in August 2014, at the Stavanger Oil & Gas Exhibition in Norway, a representative from ThyssenKrupp, the German industrial giant, explicitly stated that they would not use Chinese oil drilling stabilizers. Faced with this rejection, Wang Jisheng was inspired to redouble his efforts—he engaged in sincere communication with the other party and even invited foreign partners who had already collaborated with them to share their experiences on-site.

In the end, ThyssenKrupp agreed to visit Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing for an inspection one month later. Unexpectedly, less than a week after the inspection concluded, the two parties signed a supply contract for 36 drilling stabilizers. Currently, Zhongyuan Forging & Pressing is the largest manufacturer in China in two key product categories: ultra-high-torque mining drill rods and oilfield drilling tool stabilizers.

“Focusing on our core business, mastering critical core technologies, and developing high-end ‘flagship’ products with global competitiveness are the winning formulas that enable us to continuously expand our presence overseas,” said Wang Jisheng. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the company will take it as its mission to fully enhance the image of ‘Made in China,’ steadfastly pursue a path of specialized, refined, and innovative development, remain committed to focusing on our core business, strengthening our real economy, and honing our expertise, and continuously drive high-quality enterprise development.

(Source: Science and Technology Daily; Editors: Huang Sha, Yang Xiaona)