Eco-friendly toilets revive heavy industry company in Yunnan

In an old industrial factory with broken windows and doors, Geng Jiasheng and his colleagues are producing mobile, eco-friendly toilets.

Geng, 55, is a lathe operator at Yunnan Metallurgical Kunming Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., which has been manufacturing casting machines, cranes and other heavy equipment for mining, metallurgy, and road construction since 1958.

The company, located in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, however, ran into trouble over the past several years because sales of heavy mechanical products plummeted, leaving several workshops idle.

At the end of 2015, the company began to research and develop new products, among which eco-friendly toilets were chosen as the perfect product for the company's reform for revival.

"We didn't really know much about producing eco-friendly toilets back then, but we knew they had huge market potential," said Peng Yong, general manager of the company.

"The outdated toilets in downtown areas and scenic spots were not convenient for the public," said Peng, "Both local people and tourists needed better toilets."

"What's more, the 'toilet revolution' advocated by the central government has brought us many opportunities," Peng added.

The Chinese government launched its "toilet revolution" across the country in 2015 with an aim to make public facilities cleaner and better regulated.

After setting goals for reform, the company selected staff from different posts to form a research team, with Geng serving as team leader.

"Reform is no easy job, but we have cooperated with other companies and brought in technical resources," said Peng, adding that the automatic production line, with an investment of over 30 million yuan (about 4.4 million U.S. dollars), has started mass production.

Meanwhile, Geng's team continues to upgrade their products. The fourth generation toilet can be used by more than 400 people every day.

"We received our first order of 50 toilets from the government of Zhaoyang district in northeast Yunnan last year," Geng said. "We will continuously improve our products to guarantee their quality and provide convenience for users."

Eco-friendly toilets revive heavy industry company in Yunnan

In an old industrial factory with broken windows and doors, Geng Jiasheng and his colleagues are producing mobile, eco-friendly toilets. Geng, 55, is a lathe operator at Yunnan Metallurgical Kunming Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., which has been manufacturing casting machines, cranes and other heavy equipment for mining, metallurgy, and road construction since 1958. The company, located in Kunming, the capital of southwest Chinas Yunnan Province, however, ran into trouble over the past several years because sales of heavy mechanical products plummeted, leaving several workshops idle. At the end of 2015, the company began to research and develop new products, among which eco-friendly toilets were chosen as the perfect product for the companys reform for revival. We didnt really know much about producing eco-friendly toilets back then, but we knew they had huge market potential, said Peng Yong, general manager of the company. The outdated toilets in downtown areas and scenic spots were not convenient for the public, said Peng, Both local people and tourists needed better toilets. Whats more, the toilet revolution advocated by the central government has brought us many opportunities, Peng added. The Chinese government launched its toilet revolution across the country in 2015 with an aim to make public facilities cleaner and better regulated. After setting goals for reform, the company selected staff from different posts to form a research team, with Geng serving as team leader. Reform is no easy job, but we have cooperated with other companies and brought in technical resources, said Peng, adding that the automatic production line, with an investment of over 30 million yuan (about 4.4 million U.S. dollars), has started mass production. Meanwhile, Gengs team continues to upgrade their products. The fourth generation toilet can be used by more than 400 people every day. We received our first order of 50 toilets from the government of Zhaoyang district in northeast Yunnan last year, Geng said. We will continuously improve our products to guarantee their quality and provide convenience for users.