10th Anniversary Celebration of Changzhou Yatong CNC Technology Co., Ltd.

Dear fellow Yatong family members, esteemed partners, and dearest family and friends:

Today, we’ve gathered here together to honor the decade-long journey we’ve shared with Yatong CNC and to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary. Standing here right now, I look out at the familiar faces below—some old companions who’ve been by my side since the very beginning of our venture, some new family members who’ve joined us only recently, and our partners and their families, who have always stood firmly behind us. My heart is filled with gratitude and deep emotion. Amidst all the words I could possibly say, I’d like to start by expressing one simple yet heartfelt sentiment to each and every one of you: Thank you—for being with us all along!

Ten years—though but a fleeting moment in the grand sweep of history—are for Yatong, however, more than 3,600 days and nights during which we’ve built something from nothing and grown from weakness to strength. Over these ten years, we’ve cumulatively invested over 10 million yuan in R&D funds. From an initial small team of just two or three members, we’ve grown into today’s close-knit, united family. From a single trusted customer, we’ve expanded to over 200 deep strategic partners. Starting from scratch, we’ve now secured more than 40 core patents and established solid technological barriers. From being virtually unknown, we’ve gone on to earn recognition as a private high-tech enterprise, a national high-tech enterprise, and a provincial specialized, refined, and innovative enterprise—and have even received key special funding support from the Science and Technology Bureau. Every step of our growth and every honor we’ve achieved would have been impossible without the hard work and unwavering support of each and every one of you present here! Many people ask me: Why did I choose precisely the “tough road” of manufacturing five-axis CNC tool grinders? Why do I insist on building a full industrial chain—one that even global industry giants dare not easily touch? The answer lies in my past experience as a maintenance engineer. Back then, I witnessed firsthand how customer equipment breakdowns left production lines idle and helpless due to the lack of imported spare parts, watching entire production lines grind to a halt. I saw businesses suffocating under the weight of exorbitant equipment purchase and repair costs. Even more personally, I experienced the humiliation of trying to procure genuine spare parts from the original manufacturer only to be turned away—and even being “held hostage” by foreign suppliers. At that moment, a spirit of indomitable determination took root deep within me: If we understand the industry’s pain points so well, if we truly want to solve problems for our customers, and if those so-called foreign manufacturers are so powerful, why shouldn’t we become manufacturers ourselves? Why shouldn’t we create high-performance, cost-effective five-axis CNC tool grinders that belong exclusively to Chinese enterprises? It was this original aspiration—to ensure that Chinese manufacturing would no longer be held hostage by others—and this relentless commitment to creating real value for our customers that drove me resolutely onto this challenging entrepreneurial path.

This decade has been one of overcoming obstacles and forging ahead with warmth.

I’ll always remember the very beginning of Yatong—No. 29 Xueye Road, that tiny garage barely twenty square meters in size. A workbench, a testing table, and a small shelf—that was all we had. The garage didn’t have 380-volt industrial power, but our landlord, without a second thought, immediately stepped in to coordinate with the power company and get us connected to industrial electricity. Thanks to his help, our very first piece of experimental equipment could finally be powered on. To this day, I’m deeply grateful for the kindness of this complete stranger.

We once harbored lofty aspirations. In 2017, we traveled all the way to the Hannover International Machine Tool Fair in Germany, hoping to find suppliers and build on the shoulders of giants—but instead, we hit a cold reality. Foreign suppliers turned us away outright, and their quotes were ridiculously high. Just the initial installation fee for the NUM system alone was 2 million yuan, and they demanded that we place an order for 50 sets at once, each set costing over 400,000 yuan. With a total budget of nearly 30 million yuan, we couldn't even begin to cross the industry’s “threshold.” That moment of utter disappointment and lingering resentment made it crystal clear: we simply couldn’t buy or beg for core technologies—Yatong had no choice but to embark on the path of independent R&D!

In our quest to find reliable domestic suppliers, we ran into one dead end after another. At that time, Yatong was small and still in the R&D phase—there weren’t any customer orders at all. Many suppliers politely turned us down, saying, “You’re working on such a challenging product; chances are it’ll never take off. Sending you samples for testing would just be a waste of time.” But we didn’t give up. With our original vision and sincere intentions, we kept visiting supplier after supplier. Some suppliers we approached five or six times before finally being won over by our relentless persistence and genuine commitment to getting things done. Now, ten years later, these supplier partners have stood by us through thick and thin. From our initial “Let’s give it a shot” attitude to today’s “We’ll go through thick and thin together,” they’ve long since become Yatong’s most crucial strategic partners.

Just as we were about to begin pilot production after successfully developing the domestic supporting products, we once again ran into the dilemma of lacking an assembly plant.

Just when we were at a complete loss, a customer—who had been nurtured through our after-sales service—extended a helping hand to us: They cleared out one of their self-built factory buildings and made it available as our temporary R&D base. The space was less than 120 square meters; in summer, it felt like a steamer, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, while in winter, it was as cold as an ice cellar.

It was in this humble setting that our team—consisting of just two or three people—stood firm day and night, conducting repeated experiments and enduring over 600 days and nights of hardship and anticipation.

Finally, in January 2019—after six years of effort— the first prototype of a five-axis tool grinder was successfully built in this unassuming, self-built house!

The moment the first tool produced by this prototype achieved precision that was in no way inferior to that of imported equipment, the team members embraced one another and burst into tears—yet I remained strangely calm.

Because only I know that, through countless lonely nights, amid repeated experimental failures, constant rejections from suppliers, and the ever-present risk of a broken funding chain, I’ve already envisioned countless successful scenarios in my mind—and countless times, I’ve been moved to tears by my own perseverance.

The hardships on the entrepreneurial journey have long since transformed that initial “joyful tears” into a clear-headed sense of relief—relief born from having finally shed an immense burden. I know full well that this is not the end; rather, it’s the very moment when Yatong truly begins to enter the market and serve its customers! The knife we’ve been sharpening doesn’t just hone Yatong’s technological confidence—it also embodies the indomitable spirit of Chinese manufacturing, a spirit that refuses to admit defeat. This prototype machine isn’t merely the starting point of Yatong’s technology; it’s also a testament to our team’s spirit of “blazing trails through mountains and building bridges over rivers!”

From a tiny 20-square-meter garage, to a temporary self-built structure of less than 120 square meters, and then to today’s 200-square-meter facility in Building No. 3 of the Xinzhah Science and Technology Park—now expanded to 29,600 square meters—and finally, to this 1,500-square-meter factory building in Building No. 7—what’s piled high here isn’t just a collection of machines ready to be shipped across the country and even overseas; it’s also proof of the market’s recognition, the trust our customers have placed in us, and the bountiful fruits that every member of Yatong has nurtured with their hard work and dedication! Right now, as I gaze upon this factory brimming with equipment, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come—from the early days when we were desperately scrambling to source spare parts everywhere, to today, when our mature, independently developed products are selling steadily across China and reaching out to international markets, enabling us to establish a firm foothold in an intensely competitive marketplace. At this moment, I’d like to say: We’ve never let down our original aspirations from ten years ago, nor have we ever betrayed the trust placed in us by each and every one of our clients. For these ten years of unwavering commitment, we’ve delivered a truly satisfying result!

Due to time constraints, I can’t go into detail today about those deeply moving moments and the stories of working side by side over the past decade. Yet every bond of friendship and every act of mutual assistance has long been etched into Aitong’s genes and woven into its very blood—never to be forgotten.

This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the relentless efforts of every single member of the Yatong family: It’s us—working day and night, tackling one tough technical challenge after another, and building our technological fortress with over 40 patents. It’s our frontline production team, relentlessly pursuing perfection and pushing the precision of every single piece of equipment to its absolute limit, safeguarding Yatong’s stellar reputation with painstaking craftsmanship. It’s our marketing and service teams, who’ve traveled far and wide across the country, keeping our customers’ needs close to heart and earning their trust through professionalism and sincerity. And above all, it’s the silent, unwavering support from all of you—our family members and friends—whose patience has tolerated our loved ones’ early mornings and late nights, whose strength has shouldered the burdens of our families, allowing them to shine brightly on Yatong’s stage without any worries or distractions. You are Yatong’s strongest backing, and you are the “unsung heroes” we owe the greatest gratitude to!

Standing at a new starting point after ten years, looking toward the future, I solemnly pledge to all of you:

First, we will remain true to our original technological aspirations and continue to significantly increase our R&D investment. Technology is the foundation of Yatong, and innovation is its very soul. Over the next decade, we will place R&D at the strategic heart of our business, stepping up our investments in both capital and talent. We’ll tackle more “bottleneck” technologies that are critical to various industries, continuously enhance the performance and precision of our existing equipment, and further amplify the technological advantages embodied in our over 40 patents. This will enable us to develop products with even stronger core competitiveness, ensuring that Yatong’s technological prowess always stays at the forefront of the industry—and that China’s intelligent manufacturing gains greater confidence and strength!

Second, we empower our team to grow and share in the fruits of our collective success. Today’s achievements of Yatong are the result of every single member’s hard work and dedication; and for Yatong’s future, we’ll need everyone to join hands and create it together. We’ll build a more comprehensive training system, clearer promotion pathways, and more competitive incentive mechanisms—providing those who are capable and willing to put in the effort with even greater opportunities for growth and a broader stage to shine. As long as you give your all to the company, Yatong will never abandon anyone. We’re committed to ensuring that every hardworking individual can realize their personal value and reap the glory of their career here.

Third, we will deepen our win-win partnerships and jointly create industrial value. From providing “timely help in times of need” to our customers during the early stages of our startup, to now receiving “strong support” from over 200 partners, Yatong has always kept in mind: our customers’ success is our own success. Looking ahead, we will repay every bit of trust with even higher-quality products, more attentive services, and an even more open mindset. We will complement each other’s strengths, share resources, and walk hand-in-hand with our partners, co-creating greater value along the industrial chain and sharing the fruits of our development!

Fourth, we will continue to expand our sales channels and deepen our global presence. Ten years ago, we had to travel far overseas in search of spare parts—but today, our products have already made their way onto the world stage. This is just the beginning. In the future, we’ll keep delving deeper into overseas markets, ensuring that the “Made by Yatong” label becomes synonymous with quality across even more countries around the globe. We aim to showcase China’s prowess in intelligent manufacturing to the world and establish Yatong as a flagship brand that embodies China’s manufacturing industry on the global stage!

Dear family members and friends, over the past decade, we’ve weathered storms together, walking side by side through the arduous journey from nothing to something—and sharing in the joy of growing from small beginnings to great achievements. As the next decade unfolds, a new journey has begun, and new dreams are calling us forward!

At this moment, I propose that we all raise our glasses—to Xiatong CNC’s 10th anniversary! To the decade of our steadfast partnership and mutual support! To the technological confidence built on more than 40 patents! To the glory and dreams yet to come! And finally, to the health, prosperity, and happiness of every single one of you present here today!

Thank you everyone! Cheers! Thank you everyone!