In a factory on the outskirts of Zhengzhou, Henan province, workers are preparing an unusually large piece of farm equipment for overseas shipment.
The centerpiece is a 13-furrow hydraulic reversible plow. Designed for large commercial farms, the implement can turn roughly 6.5 meters of soil in a single pass, making it one of the largest products in its class.
For Zhengzhou Zhongxing Longfeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Co, the shipment reflects a broader shift. The company is targeting higher-end machinery by investing in engineering, automation and localized innovation.
Founded in 1993, Longfeng has spent more than three decades specializing in plows, harrows and seeders. Its products are not only used across major grain-producing regions nationwide, but also exported to foreign markets including Russia, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America.
Longfeng said it now holds China's largest share of the domestic market for hydraulic reversible plows with four or more furrows — a niche historically dominated by European brands. About a decade ago, executives of the company traveled to Europe for cooperation.
"We were completely dismissed," recalled Hai Zhiyong, one of Longfeng's directors. "We offered favorable terms for cooperation, but they simply weren't interested."
Such an experience became a turning point.
"Our company chairman asked us then: 'Why can't we build products as good as theirs?'" Hai said, adding that the very question shaped Longfeng's research agenda over the next decade.
The company expanded from manufacturing three-furrow plows to developing machines with up to 13 furrows, while introducing hydraulic width adjustment and replacing imported core components with domestically developed alternatives.
The company's strategy has centered on building technology in-house rather than relying on imported equipment.
"Our research and development begins with materials, manufacturing processes and production equipment," said Chen Xuanda, head of R&D at the company.
Instead of purchasing all of its testing systems, Longfeng designed and built many of them itself. "If we want to solve problems that others haven't solved, we need equipment that doesn't yet exist," Chen said.
The company now holds more than 100 utility model and design patents and reinvests between 5 percent and 10 percent of annual revenue into R&D. About 15 percent of its workforce is engaged in R&D.
Longfeng's overseas expansion began about five years ago with its first shipment to Russia. Demand from overseas customers also helps boost product development.
Russia's highly mechanized farms have driven demand for larger equipment, prompting Longfeng to develop 12- and 13-furrow plows and high-capacity seeders. In Southeast Asia, where farms are generally smaller, the company focuses on more compact machinery.
"Every overseas market pushes us to improve our products," Chen said. "Customer demand becomes another source of innovation."
For Longfeng, the objective is competing in a market long dominated by established global manufacturers. "When the quality of our products, our manufacturing processes and our service all reach a certain level, going global becomes a natural step," Hai said. "Innovation is what allows us to stay in that market."
