The largest automatic control system manufacturer in China

The reporter from China Energy News visited Xu Changrong, the general manager of Beijing Hollysys Automation Drive Technology Co., Ltd., the largest manufacturer of automation control systems in China. The doctor not only has a thorough research on product technology, but also has a deep understanding of the industry and market. He said that the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" continued to emphasize the transformation of the economic development model, and improving the level of industrial automation is the way to achieve it. my country's automation industry will usher in great development in the next five years.

Q: Last year, the "Decision of the State Council on Accelerating the Cultivation and Development of Strategic Emerging Industries" was released, and this year is the first year of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan". What impact will it have on the automation industry?

Xu Changrong: I think this will bring new development opportunities to the automation industry. Economic transformation and energy conservation and consumption reduction are inseparable. The improvement of energy efficiency should be achieved through automation. In addition, in terms of high-end equipment manufacturing, it is mainly to improve the level of automation in order to achieve the purpose of energy saving and emission reduction.

For the controller and driver in the field of wind power control, we already have independent intellectual property rights. We have been involved in this emerging business since 2008. Wind power has only begun to develop rapidly in recent years, and the market has just started. Although this business currently occupies a relatively small share in the company, we are still optimistic about this market. The state's supportive policies for new energy are getting stronger and stronger, and the market demand will also increase. This is an excellent opportunity to open up the market for Hollysys. Our hardware already has the ability to accept market competition. It can be predicted that the wind power business will account for 20%-30% of the company's business and about 5% of the group's business in 2-3 years. At the same time, we also have solar energy receiving control system technology in solar photovoltaic, and the specific business development direction depends on the market size.

Q: During the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period, the state will continue to promote the localization of major equipment. From the perspective of local planning and the "Twelfth Five-Year" industrial planning of various industries, "localization" has been put on the government's work agenda, and independent innovation has always been the bottleneck for the automation industry to achieve localization. How do you think the level of independent innovation in the industry can be improved? ?

Xu Changrong: First of all, policy support is needed. At present, the market satisfaction rate of my country's domestic equipment is less than 60%, of which only about 1/3 can reach the international advanced level. Some of these imported products already have R&D capabilities. Domestic products have just been put into the market, and domestic users are afraid of taking risks and immature technologies, so they dare not buy them, and would rather import mature foreign products at high prices. This is very detrimental to the development of domestic enterprises. The "Decision of the State Council on Accelerating the Cultivation and Development of Strategic Emerging Industries" puts forward some good guidelines and policies for investment and financing, fiscal and taxation policies, and imperfect systems and mechanisms for entrepreneurship, which will escort the independent innovation activities of enterprises.

At the same time, enterprises must have a sense of independent innovation, attach importance to personnel training, and increase investment in research and development. At Hollysys, R&D expenses account for 10% of annual sales, which is very high. Last year, we prepared to build a research and development center in Xi'an High-tech Zone. It is expected that there will be more than 1,000 R&D personnel within three years. This will further enhance the overall technical strength of the group, and will play an important role in promoting the development of automation, intelligence, informatization, digitization, high-end equipment, electronic information and other industries in western my country. On this basis, Hollysys R&D Center will also establish the largest embedded software R&D team in China, and strive to achieve global industry-leading status in all major technologies within 3 years after the project is built.

Q: For technology-intensive enterprises, talent is the most valuable asset. What are the characteristics of Hollysys in talent strategy?

Xu Changrong: It can be said that talent flow is inevitable in our automation industry. Generally, with a good working environment and generous returns, our employees have a sense of belonging in the company and feel that they can realize their own value. At the same time, we also need to have an open mind. I often say that the stage is made by myself. As long as the stage of Hollysys is large enough and there is room for employees to play, I believe that a strong cohesion and centripetal force can be formed.