This month Milling and Grain takes the opportunity to interview Mr Xu Bin, chairman of the Chinese Myande Group as it plays an increasing role in the international milling sector and is a supporter of our magazine.
Mr Xu Bin tells us his company has always adhered to core concepts of creating value for customers and continuously engaging with the grain processing industry around the world. The company is also a leading provider of integrated solutions in the oils and fats sector, starch and derivatives industry along with meal fermentation, evaporation and crystallization.
Would you please say something about Myande Group’s main business activity and achievement?
Myande provides customers with integrated engineering services, which include process design, equipment manufacturing, design and supply of automatic control systems, installation, commissioning and training. According to diversified customer needs, we provide customised solutions.
The largest oilseeds crushing facilities in China, namely a 6000 tonne per day soybean crushing facility, 3000 6000 tonne per day canola seed crushing facility, 700 6000 tonne per day corn germ crushing facility and 1000 6000 tonne per day soybean white flake processing facility in one single line, are all designed and supplied by our Group.
Over the past five years, we have become a global engineering company and have supplied more large-scale turnkey projects - this means for example, 5000 6000 tonne per day oilseed crushing and 1000 to 6000 tonne per day oil refinery - than any other engineering company in the world. We have also exported to Europe a large-scale complete oilseeds crushing line. In terms of capacity, this crushing line is the largest one among all crushing lines ever exported to Europe by a Chinese engineering company.
What do you think makes your company an industry leader in its field?
Our mission statement says that “with professionalism, we manufacture high quality mechanical products and supply complete solutions that enable our clients to succeed. We are dedicated to create a bright future for us as well as for our clients.”
In order to realise that, we have established the international talent strategy by enrolling top experts internationally and forming a team of highly-qualified engineers. We cultivate a culture of passionate people and inspire innovation. We support our employees and their professional goals because an investment in our people is an investment in our future.
With innovation in mind, we always insist on continuous R&D. Our annual R&D expenditure exceeds 10 percent of our total sales. A professional R&D team of nearly 100 people promotes the more efficient developments within the entire industry.
In addition, we always adhere on our customer-oriented principle, actively carry out research on cutting-edge technology and products and maintain our industry’s leading position. Myande has developed a series of large-scale, high-end intelligent equipment and advanced production technologies. And they have been widely applied in many large edible oil mills, and have solved many developmental pain points and helped customers achieve extraordinary results.
You have mentioned a focus on innovation. Is AI an important aspect of today’s equipment?
We have an intelligent manufacturing base which features high intelligence, automation and efficiency in which various sensors, intelligent control system, industrial robots and automated production lines are adopted.
We have formed the manufacturing system that integrates design and manufacturing, intelligent management, data and information gathering and control automation.
We are committed to providing excellent process solutions, and have strict requirements on the quality of equipment manufactured. The stability and reliability of equipment are prerequisites for creating value and benefits.
Myande is an industry-leading manufacturing platform, with a manufacturing workshop area of nearly 80,000 square meters consisting of cutting, machining, welding, painting, assembly, packing and other sections. Three high-power laser cutting machines, modern machining equipment, gantry machining center, welding robots and other advanced processing equipment ensure the accuracy of each component.
Sandblasting, rust removing, pickling ceramicisation, and powder coating ensure the final quality of equipment. We have complete quality control systems and quality control methods that are fully recognised and appreciated by our global customers.
You mentioned earlier that you have enrolled international engineers. Do you have a global sales network that provides customer support?
Myande has a highly effective worldwide sales and service network with branches and agents in many countries. Delivery time and delivery quality have been recognised and praised within the industries we serve.
We understand that Chinese companies operate differently from those in other countries. What management philosophy creates the spirit and provides the impetus for an enterprise such as yours?
Passion, precision and honesty is not only expressed in the origin of the name of Myande, but these also the core value of the company and the code of conduct for all employees. We also have clearly defined values that each of these three words include. For example, Passion stands for: curiosity, sense of mission and responsibility, clear vision, creativity, initiative, team spirit and fast action; Precision stands for attention to details, workmanship, professionalism, accuracy and seeking excellence; Honesty stands for kindness to people, positive view of the world, frankness in communication, completeness in expression, faithfulness to commitments, enabling clients to succeed, empowerment of employee development, respect to shareholders and social responsibility.
How would you open up and develop greater opportunities in the international marketplace?
Myande actively responds to the national initiative of ‘One Belt, One Road’. With our strong corporate strength and breakthroughs in innovation, we have spread our footprint throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and America.
In 2020, Myande exported the complete equipment for processing 3000 tonnes per day soybean, 2000 tonnes per day rapeseed and 2700 per day sunflower seed to Russia. It has been the largest edible oil completely equipped project exported to Europe from China so far, with completely independent intellectual property rights.
Through cooperation with customers, we have has undertaken more than 300 projects in more than 30 countries around the world, which has been fully recognised by customers.
What is the future development plan for your company?
We manufacture high quality mechanical products and supply complete solutions that enable our clients to succeed. We are dedicated to creating a bright future for us as well as for our clients. Facing the future, we need to focus on improving the following.
First, further strengthen technological innovation and insist on leading the development of enterprises through technology. We will further increase investment in research and development, strengthen the introduction and training of talent, attach importance to the combination of industry-university-research and further strengthen cooperation with well-known research institutes at home and abroad.
Second, we will also use information technology for system monitoring and remote maintenance for customers under their authorisation, so as to resolve problems that may occur in the production process in a timely way.
Third, we will further improve the level of intelligent manufacturing and make greater strides on the basis of the industry’s global leadership. The “intelligent factory” created needs to use sensors, intelligent control systems, industrial robots and automated production lines through the deep integration.
Finally, we will establish a more meticulous global service system to be closer to customers. We actively follow the national initiative of ‘One Belt, One Road’ and ‘Going Global,’ excavate customer needs, makes full use of our diversified advantages, optimise process plans and product upgrades, and accelerate international business systems.
