Machines roar and production lines run at full capacity. On May 25, stepping into the production workshop of Hunan Icemedal Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. in Quantang Neighborhood, Changsha County, a bustling scene unfolded. Company head Lu Yuelei and his team were closely monitoring production progress — "This batch of edible ice production lines worth three million yuan is about to be shipped to Serbia. The foreign buyer ordered three lines in one go!"

This is just a vivid snapshot of the booming development of enterprises in Quantang Neighborhood. Founded in 2019, Icemedal Refrigeration has rapidly grown into a "specialized, sophisticated, and innovative" small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Hunan Province. Its story is a global expansion path for an "ice industrial chain" spanning from daily consumption to industrial cooling. Moreover, it is a warm bond of returned Hunan-based entrepreneurs giving back to their hometown.

A hustle and bustle scene of the workshop.

"Cold" Technology Conquers a "Hot" Market — Products Exported to 130 Countries

The world of "ice" is rich and diverse in the company. At the workshop, there are common edible ice makers, industrial ice-making equipment for cooling large-scale engineering concrete, microcrystalline flash-freezing devices for juice slushies, and even complete high-end edible ice production lines. The enterprise focuses on three major areas of edible ice, industrial ice-making, and engineering cooling. Its products not only perform excellently in the domestic market but also set sail overseas, selling well in over 130 countries and regions across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America.

As a pioneer in China's edible ice-making sector, Icemedal Refrigeration provides full-process solutions from water purification and efficient ice-making to ice forming and packaging into storage. Its high-end edible ice equipment, known for high transparency and purity, is widely used in beverage mixing, upscale bars, tasting events, and other scenarios, helping customers gain a competitive edge in niche markets. Cutting-edge technologies such as concrete cooling with ice have also opened up broader application spaces.

"Made in China, Good!" Italian Buyers Praise and Place Orders on the Spot

Good wine needs no bush. On May 20 this year, eight Italian buyers made a special trip to the company for an inspection, intending to purchase complete sets of edible ice equipment. Faced with the high standards and strict requirements of the foreign buyers, Lu Yuelei personally patiently explained the core highlights of each product and repeatedly conducted on-site tests. The excellent product quality and professional attitude won continuous praise from the clients, "Made in China, Good!" That very day, the order was smoothly secured.

This recognition stems from a commitment to quality. The company's management is strict and standardized, with controls from laser cutting and fully automated welding to quality checks at every stage, all performed according to standards to ensure the equipment is stable and reliable. The booming trend of orders scheduled up to August is the market's best response to its quality.

Various production lines in the workshop are running at high speed.

Return of Hunan-based Entrepreneurs: A Growth Story of Specialized and Sophisticated SME

The growth of this provincial-level "specialized and sophisticated" SME represents a warm story of returning home, taking root, and contributing to their hometown. Lu Yuelei is a native of Changsha County. Years ago, he went to Panyu, Guangzhou City, and carved out a space in the ice-making equipment field. In March 2019, inspired by his hometown's "Return of "Hunan-based Entrepreneurs" policy, he resolutely decided to return and start a business in his hometown.

With the efficient coordination and warm service of Quantang Neighborhood, enterprise service center, and "Quantang + Service" station, Lu Yuelei soon purchased an entire complex integrating office and production in Quantang, embarking on his second venture. Adhering to the philosophy of "integrity, mutual benefit, and joyful living," he strictly controlled quality and prioritized local employment.

In 2023, the enterprise reached a new level, leasing a 5,000-square-meter integrated base for R&D, office, and production in the adjacent Xingchuang Intelligent Industrial Park. The workforce grew from over 30 to more than 80 employees, and last year's output value was nearly 60 million yuan. "Starting a business in Quantang, with meticulous support from the neighborhood, community, and relevant departments, the business keeps growing and my confidence keeps increasing," Lu Yuelei remarked with emotion.

"Quantang + Service" Continues to Safeguard and Optimize the Business "Ecosystem"

From starting up and taking root to growing into a provincial-level "specialized and sophisticated" SME, the story of Icemedal Refrigeration reflects the pragmatic approach of Quantang Neighborhood in providing dedicated support and assisting enterprises through action. In the future, the neighborhood authority will continue to advance the "Enterprise Service Year" initiative, polish the "Quantang + Service" brand for enterprises, conduct "one-on-one" door-to-door visits through enterprise liaison service teams, precisely inquire about needs and solve problems with targeted measures, and implement multiple pragmatic actions to optimize the business environment, striving to ensure that every enterprise in Quantang can operate comfortably and develop easily.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunantoday