Vision, Resilience, and Innovation: The Jornen Story
Adapted from the December 2012 feature interview with Jornen Founder, Mr. Yang Yijun.
The trajectory of Mr. Yang Yijun’s life mirrors the remarkable transformation of China’s modern manufacturing sector. Beginning his journey at just 16, Mr. Yang’s early career spanned roles from farming and carpentry to an intensive self-education in mechanical design. In 1975, at age 23, he demonstrated his innate entrepreneurial drive by raising funds, solving complex processing bottlenecks, and independently securing orders for a small automotive hardware workshop.
However, operating a private enterprise at that time came with profound risks. In 1977, his workshop was shuttered under the era’s restrictive policies, forcing him to refund all purchase orders and sell his personal furniture to clear debts. Yet, this intense crucible only hardened his resolve. His undeniable technical skill and entrepreneurial spirit soon earned him a leadership role as the supply and marketing manager at a state-owned printing equipment factory in Ruian. When the tide of economic reform and opening up finally swept across China, Mr. Yang was perfectly positioned to seize the moment.
The Breakthrough: Engineering the DGB-250 Blister Machine
In 1984, when the National Food and Drug Administration Bureau issued a directive to accelerate the adoption of aluminum-plastic packaging for pharmaceuticals, the high cost of imported equipment left many domestic factories unable to comply. Mr. Yang immediately recognized a critical market void.
Committing himself entirely to this challenge, he conducted extensive market research, consulting with national regulatory bodies and leading pharmaceutical manufacturers. Drawing on his deep understanding of printing equipment mechanics, he drafted hundreds of blueprints and conducted relentless iterations. For four years, the pursuit of the perfect blister machine consumed his time, capital, and energy.
That dedication materialized in 1989 with the successful launch of the DGB-250 Multifunctional Platen-Type Automatic Blister Packaging Machine. Unveiled at the Shanghai Autumn Pharmaceutical Equipment Fair, the machine stunned the industry by offering comprehensive functionality, innovative structural design, and accessible pricing. It filled a massive technological gap in the domestic market, earning the “Zhejiang Elite Product” designation in 1991 and a Gold Medal at the Third National New Technology and New Product Exhibition.
A Philosophy of Quality and Open Competition
As the company (then known as Jiangnan Enterprise) grew, it inevitably faced fierce market competition, sometimes from within. When key technical staff decided to leave and start their own competing ventures, Mr. Yang responded with a uniquely progressive philosophy.
Rather than stifling ambition or allowing internal conflicts to drag the company down, he chose to support their departure. He believed that consciously fostering competition not only benefited the local economy of Ruian but served as a powerful internal catalyst, forcing Jornen to continuously elevate its own technology and quality.
This unshakeable confidence in his product was reflected in his sales strategy. Famously noted by China Pharmaceutical News for operating without a traditional sales force, Mr. Yang argued that complex industrial equipment—like blister machines, cartoning machines, and capsule fillers—must rely on intrinsic engineering excellence. “With favorable word-of-mouth and exceptional after-sales service, the product promotes itself,” he asserted, making the customers Jornen’s strongest advocates.
The Strategic Leap to Shanghai
To secure long-term global competitiveness, Mr. Yang orchestrated a massive strategic expansion in 2000, purchasing a 26,000-square-meter campus in Shanghai’s Songjiang District. Designed personally by Mr. Yang, the modern facility was conceptualized as a “garden plant”—seamlessly integrating a state-of-the-art R&D center, trial manufacturing zones, training facilities, and an expansive exhibition hall.
To maintain an invincible position in the market, Jornen aggressively modernized its operations:
Technological Upgrades: Comprehensive integration of CAD, CAPP, and CAM systems, alongside heavy investments in advanced CNC processing centers and mirror linear cutting equipment.
Digital Transformation: Implementation of a robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to synchronize finance, production, and global sales.
Zero-Defect Quality Control: A stringent three-dimensional management mode featuring four mandatory checkpoints: Processed Part Check, Assembly Recheck, Commissioning Check, and User Check. Accountability is traced level by level, ensuring uncompromising performance.
A Global Footprint and Enduring Legacy
Today, Jornen’s highly engineered packaging lines operate in over 70 countries and regions, including the United States, Russia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Yet, beyond the commercial success, Mr. Yang measures the company’s true value by its social impact.
He firmly believes that an enterprise’s ultimate purpose is to create societal wealth—generating employment, paying taxes, and providing a platform for employees to realize their full potential through scientific management and teamwork.
Under his leadership, Jornen evolved into China’s largest provider of pharmaceutical blister packaging equipment, securing 17 national patents and numerous accolades, including “Shanghai High-tech Enterprise” and inclusion in the “National Torch Plan.” Reflecting on a lifetime of engineering triumphs and industry leadership, Mr. Yang remains grounded in the historical context of his success: “Our generation is lucky to have grasped the opportunity created by the times.”