Wheelchair maker, with a conscience
By Fei Lai |
February 23, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FEW roads in Shanghai are named after companies or their brands. But in Zhuanqiao Town, Minhang District, a short, narrow roadway honors the prominent company on its path.
Hubang Road, less than 150 meters long, had no name 13 years ago when Shanghai Hubang Medical Appliances Co set up its headquarters there. Three years later, the maker of wheelchairs and other medical devices applied to the local authority to name the road after the company. The application was approved.
Hubang ranks among the top 10 Chinese wheelchair brands.
"It is a promising company that serves senior citizens and the disabled," said General Manager He Yifeng. "We are proud of our obligation to society."
Walking into the company offices, one is greeted by four giant Chinese characters on the wall: hu bang hu ai. It means mutual help and love.
The company manufactures 600,000 wheelchairs a year, drawing on its more than 50 patents. It is considered a standard-setter for the wheelchair industry in China.
"It's our goal to help eliminate worries and raise the quality of life for the seniors and the disabled by developing and producing quality wheelchairs and walkers," said He.
He attributed the success of the company to three factors: innovation, market pricing and high standards.
He started the business in 1998. At the time, he saw a niche market. Few manufacturers were interested in wheelchairs, ignoring the opportunities opened up by rapidly ageing population.
"I decided to produce wheelchairs adapted to the habits of Chinese people and to the road conditions of China," He said.
"I focused on safety, happiness and comfort for those with limited mobility."
Among his innovations were lighter wheelchairs made from aluminum alloy instead of the traditional steel frames.
In 2002, the company registered the Hubang brand name, which translated means "mutual help and care." He said he felt the name fit the image the company wanted to project and conveyed its dedication to helping people.
Hubang went on to pass all major certification standards, including those imposed by the European Union.
The company has now expanded its manufacturing to the cities of Tianjin Municipality in northern China and Chengdu City in the southwest of the country.
The company has also participated in the formulation of new standards for domestic manual and electric wheelchairs.
The price of Hubang products has become a reference point for similar products across the country.
"Hubang has shown its competitiveness by taking 37 percent of the market in China," said Chen Linghong, deputy director of the Minhang District Economy Commission.
In 2006, He served as a Chinese representative at a wheelchair conference for developing countries in India. He said he was very surprised to see presentations from Western countries exhibiting personalized wheelchairs and the humanistic approach they took toward people who need mobility assistance. He said he realized that Hubang products needed to be upgraded.
Back to the drawing boards, Hubang recruited new talent, including technicians skilled in ergonomics and mechanical design. In conjunction with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the company established a research center, which led to the development of more than 100 manual and 10 electric wheelchairs and won dozens of patents.
The company was hailed as a "Shanghai High-Tech Enterprise" and a "Shanghai Scientific and Technological Giant."
In 2008, Hubang wheelchairs appeared at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Games in Beijing.
"Unlike similar companies in China, we own independent technological research and development capacity and advanced manufacturing processes," said the general manager. "That's what makes me most proud. Every part of one of our wheelchairs comes from our own workshops, not from outside suppliers."
He said part of the company's success comes from its respect for the interests and advancement of its employees.
About 80 percent of the managers at Hubang have been promoted from lower ranks. He has promised to double salaries by 2020.
The sense of team spirit pervades the company. The walls are decked with inspirational slogans, such as "the goals for tomorrow are more important than the glory of today," and "all shortcuts lead to a twisted way; the shortest course is to fight on."
He hasn't let success go to his head. He's still a familiar site around his workshops, mingling with employees. He seldom spends time on socializing. He goes to bed each night at 9:30.
Hubang won't rest on its laurels. He said he wants to develop a "smarter" wheelchair, with investment from capital markets.
"Good wheelchairs support not only bodies, but also dignity," he said.
The company also will become more actively involved in rehabilitation services to the disabled and elderly, he said.
Hubang Road, less than 150 meters long, had no name 13 years ago when Shanghai Hubang Medical Appliances Co set up its headquarters there. Three years later, the maker of wheelchairs and other medical devices applied to the local authority to name the road after the company. The application was approved.
Hubang ranks among the top 10 Chinese wheelchair brands.
"It is a promising company that serves senior citizens and the disabled," said General Manager He Yifeng. "We are proud of our obligation to society."
Walking into the company offices, one is greeted by four giant Chinese characters on the wall: hu bang hu ai. It means mutual help and love.
The company manufactures 600,000 wheelchairs a year, drawing on its more than 50 patents. It is considered a standard-setter for the wheelchair industry in China.
"It's our goal to help eliminate worries and raise the quality of life for the seniors and the disabled by developing and producing quality wheelchairs and walkers," said He.
He attributed the success of the company to three factors: innovation, market pricing and high standards.
He started the business in 1998. At the time, he saw a niche market. Few manufacturers were interested in wheelchairs, ignoring the opportunities opened up by rapidly ageing population.
"I decided to produce wheelchairs adapted to the habits of Chinese people and to the road conditions of China," He said.
"I focused on safety, happiness and comfort for those with limited mobility."
Among his innovations were lighter wheelchairs made from aluminum alloy instead of the traditional steel frames.
In 2002, the company registered the Hubang brand name, which translated means "mutual help and care." He said he felt the name fit the image the company wanted to project and conveyed its dedication to helping people.
Hubang went on to pass all major certification standards, including those imposed by the European Union.
The company has now expanded its manufacturing to the cities of Tianjin Municipality in northern China and Chengdu City in the southwest of the country.
The company has also participated in the formulation of new standards for domestic manual and electric wheelchairs.
The price of Hubang products has become a reference point for similar products across the country.
"Hubang has shown its competitiveness by taking 37 percent of the market in China," said Chen Linghong, deputy director of the Minhang District Economy Commission.
In 2006, He served as a Chinese representative at a wheelchair conference for developing countries in India. He said he was very surprised to see presentations from Western countries exhibiting personalized wheelchairs and the humanistic approach they took toward people who need mobility assistance. He said he realized that Hubang products needed to be upgraded.
Back to the drawing boards, Hubang recruited new talent, including technicians skilled in ergonomics and mechanical design. In conjunction with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the company established a research center, which led to the development of more than 100 manual and 10 electric wheelchairs and won dozens of patents.
The company was hailed as a "Shanghai High-Tech Enterprise" and a "Shanghai Scientific and Technological Giant."
In 2008, Hubang wheelchairs appeared at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Games in Beijing.
"Unlike similar companies in China, we own independent technological research and development capacity and advanced manufacturing processes," said the general manager. "That's what makes me most proud. Every part of one of our wheelchairs comes from our own workshops, not from outside suppliers."
He said part of the company's success comes from its respect for the interests and advancement of its employees.
About 80 percent of the managers at Hubang have been promoted from lower ranks. He has promised to double salaries by 2020.
The sense of team spirit pervades the company. The walls are decked with inspirational slogans, such as "the goals for tomorrow are more important than the glory of today," and "all shortcuts lead to a twisted way; the shortest course is to fight on."
He hasn't let success go to his head. He's still a familiar site around his workshops, mingling with employees. He seldom spends time on socializing. He goes to bed each night at 9:30.
Hubang won't rest on its laurels. He said he wants to develop a "smarter" wheelchair, with investment from capital markets.
"Good wheelchairs support not only bodies, but also dignity," he said.
The company also will become more actively involved in rehabilitation services to the disabled and elderly, he said.
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