Plus New Products Attract Attention

　　Shantui's latest product, the SD32plus crawler bulldozer, amazed many peers. When talking about this product, Xu Gang's confidence was evident. "Although Shantui bulldozers are among the best in the industry with obvious technological advantages, we cannot rest on our laurels and stop striving." Regarding the development background of the new Plus series bulldozers, Xu Gang stated that despite the current downturn in the industry, enterprises cannot reduce investment in research and development, nor can they stop pursuing excellence in product performance.

　　Indeed, it is precisely through the persistent pursuit of product quality and performance that Shantui has achieved impressive sales results. According to Xu Gang, in 2013 when the industry was still sluggish and host manufacturers faced numerous difficulties, Shantui's bulldozer sales and market share both grew—a miracle, one must say.

　　However, Xu Gang believes that in addition to the pursuit of high-quality products, the support and care of users are also the driving force spurring Shantui's continuous innovation. "Actually, Shantui's current achievements rely on the support of our users. Shantui is very grateful for this, and users' care fills us with motivation to move forward. The new Plus series bulldozers launched this time have significantly improved in energy efficiency, reliability, safety, and other aspects compared to the previous generation. This is also our way of giving back to users with good products." According to the author's understanding, although the new Plus series bulldozers have greatly improved performance, the overall machine price, related spare parts prices, and related services have not undergone major adjustments, which indirectly demonstrates Shantui's sincere feedback to users.

　　According to Deputy General Manager Xu Gang, the SD32plus crawler bulldozer exhibited is just one of the new Plus series bulldozers; Shantui has completed the development of the entire Plus series. "During the equipment testing phase, Shantui delivered 8 trial vehicles to 8 users with different working conditions. Through user feedback, we further refined and improved the Plus series, and from the users' feedback, satisfaction with the Plus series bulldozers is quite high." Judging from the on-site response to the Shantui SD32plus crawler bulldozer at BICES 2013, the Plus series is indeed extraordinary.

　　According to the reporter's understanding, the Shantui Plus series bulldozers mainly include four models: SD13plus, SD16plus, SD22plus, and SD32plus. The Plus series bulldozers extensively absorb advanced technologies in the contemporary bulldozer field. In response to users' diverse demands for bulldozer performance and configuration, through technological innovation and the adoption of new technologies and processes, the main technical parameters, component configuration, reliability, comfort, maintainability, etc., have all been comprehensively improved.

　　Technological Innovation Shows Results

　　As a leading enterprise in China's machinery manufacturing industry, Shantui has consistently insisted on cultivating and developing independent innovation capabilities since its establishment. Through years of effort, Shantui now owns 513 patents of various types and 6 copyrights, and has formed multiple core technologies in areas such as bulldozers, road machinery, concrete machinery, fire trucks, undercarriage components, torque converters, and transmissions. As the leader of Shantui's technological innovation, Xu Gang believes that Shantui has now explored a technological innovation path suitable for its development.

　　"Shantui products adhere to two orientations: one is technology-oriented, and the other is market-oriented." Xu Gang believes that Shantui's long-term goal is to become a "century-old brand," which requires continuous technology and products as support, demanding continuous progress in Shantui's technological innovation and R&D capabilities. Under the long-term strategy, Shantui will timely launch products that meet user needs according to specific times and market conditions—that is, market-oriented.

　　"Being market-oriented requires Shantui to develop one generation and reserve one generation based on international cutting-edge technology. In this way, the R&D and verification cycle of Shantui products is greatly advanced, and the time to market for new products is significantly shortened. This is a win-win for both enhancing Shantui's competitiveness and enabling users to access better products to improve efficiency."

　　In fact, in addition to high-quality innovative products, Shantui has never stopped its R&D pace in key components such as bulldozer transmissions, torque converters, hydraulic parts, and crawler undercarriages. "In the research of key components such as hydraulics and transmission, Shantui is also proceeding step by step. Only in this way can Shantui ensure that its products always maintain leadership in all technical aspects," said Xu Gang. Through technological innovation, Shantui upgrades mature products, develops new products, continuously increases R&D investment in core components, vigorously develops key technologies and core technologies with independent intellectual property rights, and achieves technological breakthroughs in advantageous fields and technological leaps in key areas. Professional scientific research and technology also solidly reflect Shantui's determination to create value for users.

　　Talent and Management Advance Together

　　An industry leader once said that the competition among various equipment in the market ultimately comes down to the competition of advanced technology, and the competition of advanced technology ultimately comes down to the competition of talent. The importance of talent to enterprises is evident.

　　Regarding talent, Xu Gang stated that Shantui has carried out many effective efforts in talent introduction and cultivation, and will further increase investment in talent in the future.

　　It is reported that in talent cultivation and introduction, Shantui conducts closed-door training for middle-level cadres every year and carries out quantitative assessments of cadres based on four modules: "task performance, management effectiveness, recognition, and corporate culture." At the same time, in talent introduction, Shantui adapts to local conditions, localizes talent use, actively promotes the whole-unit introduction model, enhances the talent aggregation effect, implements echelon training, and optimizes the talent structure. "Outstanding talent is the cornerstone of Shantui's continuous innovation. We insist on gathering talent through multiple channels to ensure that Shantui's technology always stands at the forefront of the world. For example, we have strategic partnerships with many well-known domestic and foreign enterprises and institutions, and often organize employees to study in countries and enterprises at the industry frontier to improve our overall quality," said Xu Gang.

　　In management, Shantui continuously improves the quality of new products and R&D progress. Since 2012, Shantui headquarters and Shantui Chutian Company have successively established new product trial production centers and product verification centers, and set up test bases in Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Wuhan, and other places to conduct whole-machine test verification, data information collection, test vehicle maintenance, test vehicle problem improvement, and whole-machine performance testing. In terms of quality, Shantui vigorously carries out the "6X" quality improvement activity; optimizes the supply chain system engineering and establishes full-process control; establishes the SQS quality system, continuously improves key points, and ultimately satisfies users. In terms of service, Shantui continuously increases maintenance efforts for key accounts, making users proud to use "Shantui" products. At the same time, it strengthens after-sales service, improves the after-sales service system, increases the density of market service personnel, and establishes the Shantui Customer Support Center with spare parts supply, technical training, and technical services as its main work. In 2012, Shantui proposed the commitment of "12-month warranty service with no limit on working hours throughout the year," bringing a revolution to the service concept of China's construction machinery industry, especially in the bulldozer and road roller industries.

　　However, these dazzling achievements only represent the past. "The launch of Shantui's 'Quality Improvement Year' activity in 2013 marks that Shantui's quality requirements have entered a higher stage," said Xu Gang. "This requires us to be not only stricter with product quality but also to comprehensively upgrade internal management, product marketing, maintenance services, and other aspects."

　　Although the industry is still hovering at a low level in 2013, it is believed that under the guidance of the business philosophy of "Value Leadership, Win-Win Future," Shantui—with independent innovation, hard work on internal strength, and efforts to improve product quality—will surely lead the development of China's construction machinery industry and stand tall in the world's construction machinery arena.