The joint venture specializes in Technical Outsourcing Services (TOS), offering inspections, repairs, and overhauls. It operates a dedicated dust-free assembly workshop equipped with advanced vacuum testing equipment. Moreover, its engineering capability, coupled with its exclusive digital service platform, significantly enhances its value as a provider of service solutions. Shortly after its establishment, Kuanliang secured a 5-year comprehensive maintenance contract with Shandong Iron and Steel Group Rizhao Co., Ltd (SDIS) for the mechanical vacuum pump systems of its RH units #1, #2, and #3.
With its office located in the vicinity of the SDIS premises, Kuanliang enforces stringent inspection and maintenance protocols for the contracted equipment. On a daily basis, its technicians conduct multiple rounds of routine inspections across SDIS locations, overseeing 216 mechanical vacuum pumps. Each pump is subsequently labeled with a color code indicating its "health condition," ranging from green for normal to red as a signal for immediate replacement, repair, or overhaul. The pumps identified for repair or overhaul are transported to Kuanliang's workshop, where they undergo dismantling, inspection, and necessary “surgery.” Once refurbished, the pumps are tested, returned, and reinstalled. This proactive inspection and repair process embodies Kuanliang's philosophy of "preventive maintenance over repairing." With comprehensive diagnostic data for each pump stored in its digital service platform, Kuanliang is well-equipped to optimize pump performance effectively. Additionally, it offers 24/7 troubleshooting services. Whenever incidents occur with the vacuum pumps, Kuanliang's experienced technicians swiftly respond to resolve issues in the shortest possible time.
In the end, all efforts pay off for the vacuum pumps, which are key components in ensuring the quality of vacuum-refined products. According to statistics from SDIS, its vacuum-refined product output increased from 5.6 million tons in 2020 to 6.48 million tons after Kuanliang took over the TOS job. One reason is that, through the maintenance service of Kuanliang, the vacuum compliance rate of SDIS’s RH units has increased from 92.16% to 99.21%. These performance data translate into significant economic benefits for the customer and result in reduced maintenance costs for the vacuum pumps by 6 million RMB/year. As recognition of the extraordinary service provided by Kuanliang, SDIS has issued more than twenty commendatory letters from 2022 to 2024 and awarded Kuanliang the credential of “Outstanding Supplier of SDIS in 2023.”
Tiny but mighty – “Kuanliang” is similarly pronounced in Chinese as “Quiet Lion”
With just around 30 employees in Rizhao city, Shandong Kuanliang is 51% owned by SMS group China and has achieved extraordinary milestones in a short span of time. As the first professional service provider in China specializing in the operation and maintenance of mechanical vacuum pumps for RH systems, Shandong Kuanliang has demonstrated exceptional growth. Its order intake has increased severalfold in recent years, reaching 70 million RMB in 2024.
The "Quiet Lion" has indeed found its roar. Kuanliang's successful development over recent years lays a strong foundation for future growth. Its next steps involve extending the TOS contract with SDIS in 2025 and expanding TOS services to other steel producers, particularly in the Shandong area. Kuanliang plans to enhance its service offerings with further digital and EA solutions, along with advanced technical services, positioning itself as a leading service provider of mechanical vacuum pump systems in the metals industry.
