Ruyi propels Chinese industrial vehicles onto global stage

Venturing from its origins as an obscure plastic factory, Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co Ltd has undergone an inspiring 39-year transformation, ascending to the status of a trailblazing global leader in the warehouse material handling industry.

Headquartered in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, the company has expanded its reach to over 130 countries and regions, offering a comprehensive array of intelligent forklifts, stackers, and specialized industrial vehicles.

The company's sustained emphasis on innovation and developing new products tailored to specific market preferences has been pivotal to its success.

Ye Guoyun, executive vice president of Ruyi, revealed that all of the company's handling vehicles have now transitioned to pure electrification. In a significant technological leap, Ruyi has also developed the first generation of hydrogen fuel cell-powered handling vehicles. "While lithium battery vehicles can work continuously for about eight hours, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can operate for a week. We believe this is the direction for the future," Ye explained.

Besides achieving full electrification, Ruyi has made substantial breakthroughs in core technologies. For instance, the company has introduced an electric drive wheel, a proprietary innovation enabling forklifts to achieve on-the-spot steering. This feature allows forklifts to maneuver and turn in place when handling extra-long cargo such as steel pipes, saving significant operational space for customers.

In addition, Ruyi has recently unveiled a "follow me" smart handling system, allowing forklifts in supermarket warehouses to autonomously navigate and follow individuals. When a person stops in front of a shelf, the forklift will automatically load the goods, and once the goods are depleted, it will autonomously return to the warehouse for replenishment. This product has already gained substantial popularity in Europe.

Continuing to push boundaries, Ruyi is currently focused on developing a high-precision control system, aiming to enhance the accuracy of the system to the millimeter level.

Beyond its strong innovation capabilities, the company's proactive approach in seeking opportunities has contributed to its sales growth, defying the challenging global landscape and the current situation of oversupply in the manufacturing industry, according to Chu Jiang, chairman of Ruyi.

In a recent interview with Ningbo Evening News, Chu revealed that the company's forklift orders in January doubled compared to the previous year, with orders already scheduled through June. The chairman attributed the growth to their continuous efforts in seeking customers, particularly crediting their visits to clients in Mexico and other regions in December last year.

"Today, in order to succeed in the market, we must abandon the old way of thinking," noted Chu. He emphasized the need to abandon the mindset of waiting for customers to come to them and instead take the initiative to visit them, even going as far as buying a plane ticket to do so.