Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 31 — Title: The Resilience of China's Economy | Qianlang Coatings: Focusing on Empowering Businesses to Grow Ever More Confident

Xinhua News Agency, Sun Hui

Emerson once said, "Focus, passion, and wholehearted dedication to what you aspire to will surely bring rewards." For entrepreneurs, focus is also the key to business success.

Qianlang Chemical, in the prime of its "flowering years," embraces beauty and specializes in crafting vibrant, colorful industrial paints. Not only has it established the renowned "QL" brand, but it has also earned the trust and recognition of numerous well-known domestic and international brands, enjoying a solid reputation and high visibility in both local and global markets. Over the past 16 years, Qianlang has remained steadfast in its mission to become China's leading, locally-rooted supplier in the field of plastic coatings—and continues to strive relentlessly toward that goal.

Hu Fang, Chairman of Qianlang Chemical (China) Co., Ltd., Guests on Xinhua Net

As coating production and output value rapidly grow, how to tackle the fierce competition in the international market and adapt to the evolving landscape for better development has become the key to a company's sustainable growth. Recently, Hu Fang, Chairman of Qianlang Chemical (China) Co., Ltd., was a guest on Xinhua Net, where she shared her company's resilient journey of entrepreneurship and growth.

Stick to your original aspiration—face difficulties with resilience, refusing to give up or lose heart.

Hu Fang experienced the trials and setbacks during Qianlang's early days, witnessing both the hardships and joys of the company's growth and expansion—but she never wavered in her dedicated, focused approach.

Qianlang Chemical (China) Co., Ltd. is a professional paint manufacturer specializing in the research, development, and production of industrial plastic coatings. Established in 2002 as Shenzhen Qianlang Chemical Co., Ltd., the company primarily focuses on high-end 3C series paints, dedicated to the R&D and manufacturing of exterior coatings for "3C" electronic products. In 2010, Qianlang Coatings (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was founded, concentrating on the development and production of automotive interior and exterior decorative paints. Its product portfolio includes UV-curable paints, tactile-effect coatings, various solid-color paints, PU-series coatings, waterborne paints, and eco-friendly plant-based paints. Also in the same year, the Qianlang (Beijing) Color Center was established.

For Hu Fang, founding a paint enterprise was not a spontaneous decision—before establishing Qianlang, she had been deeply involved in the business of selling paints, giving her an excellent understanding of market trends and developments. In its early days, Qianlang focused on producing and developing "paints for home appliances." However, as China’s telecommunications technology advanced at breakneck speed—and 3C devices underwent rapid, ever-changing upgrades—Qianlang seized the opportunity to swiftly expand into the 3C sector, laying a solid foundation that would shape the company’s long-term vision.

Currently, the 3C electronics coating series has been successfully applied to high-end smart devices from brands such as Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Fujitsu, LeEco, and Orion Starry Sky, and is widely used across numerous mobile phone brands including OPPO, VIVO, TCL, Huawei, and Transsion. It is also adopted by leading mobile solution companies like Wintime, Longcheer, Zhenno, Huaqin, and Fortune Boat.

Looking back on the company's journey, Hu Fang said it was fraught with challenges. Qianlang started as a team with just 30,000 yuan in capital. After two years of exploration and growth, the company was officially registered in 2002. Although the company had already been established by then, Hu Fang didn’t have much in the way of clear plans or ideas on how to manage and operate it effectively.

Initially, Qianlang’s biggest challenges, aside from a lack of funding, were the severe shortage of talent and the inadequate mechanisms for nurturing new employees. "At first," Hu Fang explained, "because the company offered limited benefits to its staff, highly skilled and capable professionals kept leaving at an alarming rate—while newcomers struggled due to the absence of effective training programs." She added that these personnel-related issues made the company’s path to growth particularly tough. Yet, paradoxically, they also spurred Qianlang to accelerate its development—after all, challenges and transformation often go hand in hand.

“The glory of life lies not in never failing, but in the ability to rise again and keep fighting after every setback.” Facing adversity, Qianlang remains steadfast in its spirit of resilience—refusing to admit defeat or give up. Through continuous learning, exploration, and innovation, Qianlang has transformed from a place where nurturing talent seemed impossible into a thriving hub for developing qualified professionals. Moreover, the company prioritizes the sustained growth and personal fulfillment of its members, creating ideal conditions that empower individuals to unlock their full potential and pursue meaningful career paths. As Hu Fang puts it, “Qianlang’s open-minded and collaborative spirit has been consistently upheld and passed down over time, attracting numerous companies to join forces with us. This has also drawn in top-tier talent from various industries, injecting fresh momentum and charting new directions for our enterprise—truly embodying the idea: ‘When you bloom, butterflies will naturally come.’”

Just as Qianlang was enjoying a period of steady growth, in 2004, the state issued the "Regulations on Safety Production Licenses," mandating that high-risk industries such as hazardous chemical production, underground mining, and construction obtain safety production licenses. At the same time, new laws and regulations were introduced, including the revised "People's Republic of China Safety Production Law" and the "People's Republic of China Fire Protection Law." These policy changes left Qianlang’s existing production facilities, equipment, and staffing arrangements unable to meet the nation’s stringent regulatory standards. Moreover, the company’s outdated hardware and equipment could not be upgraded or rectified to comply with the new requirements, forcing the enterprise into a difficult predicament: either shut down, suspend operations, relocate, or undergo a complete transformation.

Hu Fang recalled that, faced with the choices at the time, Qianlang had no option but to "relocate"—selecting a new site within a limited timeframe, commissioning a chemical engineering design institute to draft plans for the new factory, and subsequently completing mandatory environmental, safety, and occupational health assessments. Ultimately, after passing the final inspection, the company was able to resume legal production.

Hu Fang said that safe production is a critical element in corporate development, and the government also places great importance on it. She expressed hope that after the government introduces its policies, it could provide enterprises with a transition period and offer guidance and direction on potential solutions, enabling companies to better align their operations with their unique developmental circumstances.

As the company continues to grow and expand its business scope, its products are gradually making their way beyond borders, serving an increasing number of industries and countries. Looking at the vision of Qianlang—a blueprint steadily expanding, bit by bit—Hu Fang remarked that Qianlang’s success today is largely due to its resilience and unwavering focus during its growth journey, qualities that perfectly align with her own indomitable and persistent spirit.

To better serve the national market, Shenzhen Qianlang invested in Qianlang Coatings (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai in 2010. At the same time, the Qianlang (Beijing) Color Center was also established, enabling the company to adopt a group-based operational model.

Shanghai Qianlang primarily specializes in high-end automotive interior and exterior coatings. Through years of collaborative discussions with leading automotive brands such as Great Wall, Geely, Volkswagen, Nissan, SAIC, GAC, Mazda, and Soueast Motor, as well as renowned automotive solution providers like Hengsheng, Tianhe, Autoliv, CAS, and Desay SV, the company has cultivated a strong technical confidence that enables it to compete on par with top global peers. Moving forward, Qianlang aims to make meaningful contributions to the automotive interior market by leveraging its cost advantages—such as local innovation and localized services—to deliver exceptional value to customers.

The Qianlang (Beijing) Color Center was established to better serve the research and design needs of various brands. Many major mobile phone and automotive brands—such as Xiaomi, Great Wall Motors, and Lenovo—have their exterior designs developed in Beijing. Relying on Qianlang Shanghai or Qianlang Shenzhen for these services would inevitably lead to inefficiency and reduced competitiveness, ultimately weakening customer loyalty toward Qianlang.

Think what customers think—sincerity makes trust last even longer.

For decades, day after day, the Qianlang people have poured their passion and wisdom into steady, step-by-step growth.

"Our mission is to bring coatings back to nature, and our service philosophy is to always deliver results that satisfy our customers." In Hu Fang's view, anticipating customers' needs, sharing their concerns, and serving them with genuine care will foster even deeper and more lasting trust and loyalty from clients toward the company.

As people’s living standards improve, consumers are raising their expectations for coatings even higher. With diverse demands—such as eco-friendliness, health consciousness, and a desire for stylish sophistication—customized coatings have become an essential component of modern interior design, perfectly aligning with today’s trend of individuals seeking personalized expression.

“‘Customized solutions’ is a relatively popular business model in the coatings industry, and Qianlang has consistently adhered to this principle from start to finish,” said Hu Fang. She explained that custom-made products involve tailoring solutions based on clients’ specific requirements—whether it’s incorporating their own designer’s ideas or replicating closely matched color samples—using Qianlang’s expert color engineers to conduct personalized trials and R&D, ultimately offering customers a wide range of choices while maintaining detailed records for long-term reference.

Providing personalized customization for clients requires businesses to possess a high level of service capability—this is both the key and the challenge for sustainable growth in the industry. Qianlang has invested heavily in this niche area of private customization, equipping itself with specialized talent, all while striving to deliver a more premium and seamless experience to its customers.

Hu Fang pointed out that for "3C" products and automotive coatings, each customer has a unique definition and set of requirements for every product model—this inherently means that customization is the norm in this industry. Customized paints not only maximize the realization of designers' original creative vision but also enable customers' products to stand out more prominently in an increasingly competitive market. As consumers place greater emphasis on originality and personalization, Qianlang believes that custom-made products will eventually become the mainstream consumption trend. This is precisely why Qianlang remains committed to offering personalized, tailor-made solutions.

In addition, Qianlang is also placing a strong emphasis on environmental protection, stepping up innovation in technology and adhering to the mission of "Creating a more beautiful and healthier life for humanity." The company is dedicated to the research and development of traditional plant-based paints, which, when enhanced with purely natural plant extracts, can effectively purify indoor environments by neutralizing formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, radioactive substances, and even heavy metal particles. At the same time, these paints help reduce harmful bacteria and microorganisms in the air. Once trial production proves successful, the product will be widely applicable in areas such as home furnishings and automotive interiors.

Currently, Qianlang boasts advanced testing and production equipment, has attracted and nurtured a team of skilled paint-making professionals, refined a comprehensive management system, and accumulated extensive experience in both pre-sales and after-sales services, establishing itself as a prominent large-scale paint manufacturer with significant influence in the domestic market.

Never admitting defeat and never giving up, Qianlang has fully demonstrated the resilience of its enterprise through its deep passion for this industry. Looking ahead, Qianlang will continue to move forward with steady strides. Hu Fang said: "Qianlang will remain firmly committed to the research and development of industrial coatings—creating products that are greener, more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and cutting-edge. These principles not only guide our company’s growth but also serve as the driving force behind our mission to deliver lasting value to our customers."