The Overseas Transformation Story of an “Old Device”

Changsha Evening News, Changsha on Hand, March 17 — (All-Media Reporter Kuang Xiaojuan, Intern Li Jiafeng) On the morning of March 17, a piece of red-and-gold-decorated construction equipment slowly rolled out of the Construction Machinery Remanufacturing and Maintenance Base in the Changsha Area of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the “Base”), bound for Africa. Although the equipment boasts a brand-new chassis and a completely refurbished superstructure, it was actually converted from used construction machinery that is about to be phased out domestically. Since its official inauguration and commencement of operations last March, the Base has recorded cumulative export value of RMB 860 million.
“Isn’t this just refurbishing old machinery?” Faced with this question from a layperson, Fang Zhan, General Manager of Hunan Huimeng Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd.—a company resident in the park—shook his head with a smile: “We’re giving old machines ‘new’ capabilities.” From simple repair and refurbishment to technology-driven “smart manufacturing” upgrades, and now to pioneering new markets worldwide, the remanufacturing industry in Changsha Economic Development Zone is undergoing a profound transformation.
 

Building a Platform Foundation: New Industries “Grow” from Piles of Scrap Iron
Stepping into the facility, one is greeted by the roar of machinery in the 11,000-square-meter workshop, where concrete pump trucks, tank trucks, cranes, and excavators are neatly lined up, while workers meticulously disassemble, inspect, and repair each piece of used equipment.
“In the past, the biggest headache for these traders was obtaining export authorization,” said a representative from Changsha International Trade Group Co., Ltd., pointing to a piece of equipment in the workshop. “OEMs typically do not grant direct export licenses to small enterprises; however, now that our International Trade Company has been added to the ‘whitelist’ and can collaborate with them, this challenge has been resolved.”
Built in accordance with the principle of “government guidance, enterprise leadership, and market-oriented operations,” this base integrates maintenance and overhaul, inspection and labeling, warehousing and logistics, and one-stop services, and has so far attracted 13 enterprises to set up operations there.
At the base, reporters observed that each piece of equipment slated for export is affixed with a QR-code label; a simple scan provides instant access to its test reports and detailed specifications. “Once equipment housed at the facility has undergone testing by a national-level authority, it not only receives a dedicated certification mark but is also integrated into a comprehensive official traceability system,” said the official in charge. This authoritative certification has not only been endorsed by the China Construction Machinery Association but has also gained broad mutual recognition from customs authorities in overseas markets such as Malaysia.
Within the park, one-stop service counters for taxation, customs, and other agencies have significantly boosted operational efficiency for businesses. Since its official inauguration in March 2025, the park has recorded cumulative export value of RMB 860 million, with products now being exported to Southeast Asia, Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and other regions.
“The park is like our ‘home base’,” said Feng Sujun, Head of the Legal Department at Guangwu Youche Technology (Changsha) Co., Ltd., a tenant in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Headquarters Building not far away. “The Management Committee regularly organizes matchmaking events for businesses and even helps us with export tax rebate coordination, ensuring that every link in our business chain is well taken care of.”
This trading company, leveraging the resources of Guangwu Group, achieved foreign trade imports and exports totaling RMB 182 million in 2025, with its business footprint spanning the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. Today, it is actively expanding into the construction-equipment leasing sector, aiming to gain a foothold in a broader market segment.
Innovation Empowers: Scrapped Vehicles “Grow” New Functions
If traditional remanufacturing is about “restoring the old to its original condition,” then what Huimeng Heavy Industry does is “turning waste into treasure.”
“This vehicle features a brand-new chassis, but its superstructure is built using first-level remanufactured second-hand components, enabling it to both mix and pump concrete,” Fang Zhan explained to reporters as he pointed to a “integrated mixing-and-pumping machine” at the Hui Meng Heavy Industry plant within the base, which is slated for export.
“This is not merely patchwork; it’s a reinvention driven by technological upgrades,” said Fang Zhan. He explained that this innovative approach stems from the company’s keen market insight. In the domestic used-equipment market, concrete mixer trucks and concrete pump trucks are being phased out, while overseas markets are showing strong demand for equipment that combines both functions. Leveraging its specialized vehicle manufacturing license, Huimeng Heavy Industry has integrated the available resources of these two product categories to develop an “integrated concrete mixing and pumping machine.” Last year, nearly 30 units of this model were sold in one go.
 

“Our products are particularly popular overseas,” Fang Zhan added.
Why is it so popular? Fang Zhan did the math: a brand-new 70-meter boom pump truck costs nearly RMB 5 million, whereas Hui Meng Heavy Industry’s products that meet Tier 1 standards cost only about RMB 3 million. “For overseas customers, that’s a direct savings of nearly RMB 2 million.”
However, low price does not equate to poor quality. Remanufactured products are categorized into three grades: Grade 3 restores basic functionality; Grade 2 comes with a 3- to 6-month warranty; and Grade 1 meets more than 90% of the quality standards of a new machine. Fang Zhan told reporters, “We make it clear to customers that these are products that, through our remanufacturing system, achieve conditions nearly equivalent to those of a brand-new unit.”
In addition, as the construction machinery sector continues to gain momentum, the redevelopment potential in other specialized segments within the Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone is also being unlocked. Hunan Xingtong Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which holds nationally recognized qualifications for the production of modified vehicles, has amassed extensive expertise in specialized vehicle applications such as emergency rescue. With a business scope that encompasses the remanufacturing of automotive parts and the repair of specialized equipment, the company is emerging as a significant and increasingly influential player in the specialized-vehicle remanufacturing industry.
Global Breakthrough: Changsha Standards Earn Worldwide Trust
The biggest challenge in exporting remanufactured products is building trust.
“The condition of each used machine varies, so how can we reassure overseas customers and encourage them to make a purchase?” Peng Ying, Head of the Brand Management Department at the Marketing Center of Shanhe Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., admitted that in the past many international clients were skeptical about Chinese used equipment, fearing they might end up buying accident-damaged units, rebuilt vehicles, or mileage-altered machines.
To address this critical pain point, Changsha has promulgated three local standards, including the “Standards for the Repair and Remanufacturing of Used Construction Machinery,” as well as nine industry group standards. These standards cover key processes such as the appraisal of used equipment, repair procedures, and quality control for remanufactured products, thereby preventing substandard vehicles from entering the market at the source. Moreover, the participation of original equipment manufacturers provides the strongest endorsement of product quality.

In addition, in collaboration with customs, tax authorities, and other relevant departments, the Changsha Area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone has undertaken a series of institutional innovations: it issued the nation’s first certification for remanufactured construction machinery products, using a “standards-plus-certification” model to provide clear identification and quality assurance for remanufactured equipment; in response to the challenge faced by enterprises in obtaining input VAT invoices when acquiring used equipment from individuals, it piloted a “reverse invoicing” policy; and, focusing on tariff preferences for exported equipment, it has promoted the issuance of certificates of origin for remanufactured products, enabling enterprises to benefit from more favorable tariff rates in markets such as Southeast Asia.
Today, Shanhe Intelligent is no longer just selling equipment—it is playing a much bigger game: addressing the core challenge of “inadequate spare parts support” that has long hindered the global expansion of heavy machinery. The company has partnered with major domestic suppliers to ensure ample stock of high-frequency consumables and wear-prone components in overseas warehouses across the Middle East, Africa, and other regions, enabling response times that rival those in China. At the same time, it is actively localizing its service teams and exploring collaborative training programs with local vocational and technical schools.
“Thanks to our professional refurbishment process, the performance of used devices can be restored to 80%–90% of that of new models, while their prices are only 60%–70% of the original retail price,” said Peng Ying. She added that leading companies now derive more than 50% of their revenue from overseas markets, and that the growth rate of the used-device market is even faster than that of new devices—this compelling value proposition is rapidly opening up international markets.
Recently, Changsha City issued the “Several Policies on Promoting High-Level Opening-Up and High-Quality Development in the Changsha Area of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone,” introducing concrete measures to upgrade the capabilities of platforms for opening up to the outside world, enhance the quality and efficiency of foreign trade, deepen China–Africa economic and trade cooperation, and foster an internationalized business environment, thereby injecting new momentum into the overseas expansion of local industries.
Riding on the favorable winds of “new” and “green” initiatives, the remanufacturing industry in Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone is now poised to enter a golden period of high-quality development.