The casting process has shifted from traditional manual methods to semi-automatic, mechanized production lines, resulting in higher product precision, superior quality, and a dramatic increase in output. A large number of "family workshop"-style casting factories in Jiahe have been shut down, while new, modern enterprise companies have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Meanwhile, Peng Li Kui has achieved a qualitative leap in the 10th year of his entrepreneurial journey, marking a pivotal moment for Jiahe's casting industry. Under the leadership of pioneers like Peng Li Kui, the sector has successfully completed its first transformative phase—adapting and evolving in response to changing times.

Peng Li Kui said, "As the team has grown larger, we've started recruiting talent—hiring sales professionals, finance experts, management personnel, and even technical staff. Because of this, I’ve structured the management framework into more detailed layers. Thanks to these efforts, the company is steadily moving toward standardization. From a team of just a few dozen people, we’ve now expanded to over 100 members, and currently, our team has grown to more than 200 individuals."

In 2015, Peng Li Kui led the company through its second equipment upgrade and process improvement initiative. He invested over 30 million yuan to procure four fully automated production lines, enabling the company to embrace end-to-end automation in manufacturing. By 2020, as the Jiahe Casting and Forging Industrial Park took shape and the "Jiangnan Casting Capital" brand gained widespread recognition, Peng Li Kui actively responded to the county's call by acquiring Jiahe County Zhengrun Foundry Co., Ltd. This move made him the pioneer among dozens of enterprises that joined the park, truly marking the transformation of the casting industry—from "manufacturing" toward "intelligent manufacturing."

Peng Li Kui said that in 2015, they carried out their second equipment upgrade and process improvement, successfully implementing a fully automated production line with data-driven management,智能化 (intelligent) features, and mechanization. With these advantages in place, they were able to connect with major international clients, leading to a gradual increase in orders.

In times of crisis, we nurture new opportunities; amid shifting circumstances, we forge fresh pathways forward. Over the past two decades of entrepreneurship, Peng Li Kui has worn many hats—working as a factory worker, managing operations, and handling sales—and he places great emphasis on sales. In his view, Jiahe Casting boasts superb craftsmanship and consistently reliable product quality, but what truly concerns him is ensuring there’s a robust market to sell these exceptional products. That’s why he’s actively expanding into overseas markets, conducting thorough research in Germany and the United States to explore innovative ways for Jiahe Casting to make its mark on the global stage.

Peng Li Kui said that foreign customers are quite particular about cast-iron kitchenware, strictly controlling the raw materials and elements used. Additionally, this demand is driven by differences in global culinary cultures—customers tend to use only one type of cookware for each specific dish. For instance, when cooking steak, they rely exclusively on a dedicated steak pan, while baking dishes are handled with separate bakeware. This clear distinction in cooking tools makes the demand for such products particularly strong abroad.

In the 24th year of his entrepreneurial journey, Peng Li Kui made a decision that left everyone else "stunned and shocked." Jiahe Foundry had traditionally focused primarily on manufacturing mechanical components—producing kitchenware was entirely unprecedented. Moreover, expanding from a small, remote town in southern Hunan to reach global markets seemed unimaginable to most of the foundry "factory directors," who often lacked formal education.

Peng Li Kui said that when they attended the Canton Fair and other expos, they noticed kitchenware—essential daily products—with strong consumer demand in the market. Building on the region's existing casting advantages, they successfully leveraged this opportunity to drive further development and transformation.

Today, Zhengrun Foundry Co., Ltd. has become a company that integrates design, R&D, production, and sales, with its main products being cast-iron cookware and cast-iron enamel items. The company boasts an annual output of 15,000 tons and generates an annual revenue of 200 million yuan. Its kitchenware products are widely exported to major supermarkets in Europe and America, and many of its cast-iron enamel pots have even found their way onto the dining tables of households abroad.

Peng Li Kui says that we're now in the age of new media, where livestreaming for sales has become commonplace. They’ve also integrated online and offline channels to sell Jiahe products globally, ensuring that people all over the world get to know Jiahe’s offerings.

The bellows roar, and the furnace burns fiercely as Jiahe's distinctive casting and forging industry—centered around its "One District, Two Parks"—deeply advances toward "technological innovation, intelligent manufacturing, low-carbon practices, and sustainability." In March 2023, Jiahe Economic Development Zone was officially upgraded to a provincial-level High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and successfully established itself as Hunan Province's Circular Economy Industrial Park. That same year, the county’s total output value of the casting and forging industry surpassed 20 billion yuan, with 177 enterprises operating above designated size, including 119 large-scale forging and casting firms. Among these, more than 35 companies achieved annual revenues exceeding 100 million yuan. (Reporters: Xiao Jian'an, Zeng Xiaowen, Li Jingyu, Zeng Liang, Wang Junjie)