近日，香港中華廠商聯合會對力勁集團創始人劉相尚先生進行了專訪，并刊登在《企業雄才》上，以下是采訪全文：

力勁集團創辦人劉相尚，40年來乘著「改革開放」的東風， 把握每個國家發展機遇， 把力勁從一家小型機械廠，發展為全球最大的壓鑄機制造商。他深信，只有堅守「專注技術， 以客為先」的精神，才能讓集團于時代巨輪中砥礪前行。

Liu  Siong Song, founder of LK Group, has been riding on the easterly winds ofChina’s reform and opening-up for 40 years. He has seized every developmentopportunity in the nation,transforming LK Group from a small machine factoryinto the largest manufacturer of die-casting machines worldwide. It is hisbelief that only by adhering to the motto of “focusing on technology andputting customers first” can the Group move forward through changing times.

祖籍廣東的劉相尚生于印度尼西亞一個華僑家庭，年少時在父親經營的維修汽車廠工作，10多歲時已學會組裝整輛汽車， 早早就與機械設備結下不解之緣。然而， 劉相尚的成長之路并不平坦，「小時候我在印度尼西亞讀書， 卻因當地華語學校被封鎖而要回流到內地念書， 怎料回國后又遇上文化大革命， 更經歷過上山下鄉運動， 那時候心想：難道上天注定我不能求學？」回想起年青時經歷的種種波折， 劉相尚笑言要感謝命運的安排， 好讓他在逆境中磨練出堅毅刻苦的性格。

1972 年，劉相尚輾轉移居香港， 決心投身「老本行」。他一邊在機械廠內打工，一邊到夜校念書進修， 漸漸累積對機械制造及工廠運作的知識。經過多年辛苦的打拼， 劉相尚終在1979 年自立門戶，創立力勁品牌， 從事壓鑄設備生產。「當時香港市場的壓鑄機大多由日本進口， 價格昂貴， 投資回報周期長， 反之力勁研制的熱室壓鑄機在價格上與進口設備相差3 至5 倍以上， 加上質量優良， 不久就在本地打響名堂。」

本地工業發展先鋒

80年代初， 香港鐘表業發展如日中天， 能夠成就這段光輝歲月， 力勁可謂功不可沒。「那時候制造表殼工序繁多，耗時較長， 但我們的熱室壓鑄機只需幾秒便可生產一個表殼。可以說， 香港鐘表業的出口量之所以能夠高踞世界第一， 與力勁成功沖破這項傳統技術限制有莫大關系。」劉相尚自豪地說。

創新的技術配備不但使力勁逐步超越日本廠家， 甚至取得超過6、7成本地表殼機械設備的市場占有率。除表殼以外，力勁于80年代亦為本地廠商制造生產玩具及其他日用品的機器， 默默支持本港工業朝全球市場邁進。

緊隨改革開放足跡

回顧力勁40年的奮斗史，劉相尚強調，力勁數十年來不僅見證國家改革開放的發展歷程，亦與內地企業共同成長。1991 年，劉相尚正式進軍內地，于深圳成立力勁機械（ 深圳） 有限公司， 早期以制造鑰匙、拉鏈頭等日用品機器為主，以配合內地個體戶的需求。

「隨著90年代內地的家電市場崛起， 我們開始發展生產家電的機器；到90年代中期至2000 年以后，內地人民生活水平提升，交通需求急速增長，我們便從輕工業走到重工業， 拓展摩托車及汽車生產機器業務；隨著近年國內智能手機和網絡迅速發展， 以及市場對環保概念日益重視， 促使了5G通訊設備和電動車時代的誕生， 力勁現時亦已加緊相關項目的研發工程。」

為配合內地業務不斷擴展， 力勁先后于上海、中山、寧波、遼寧阜新、江蘇昆山及臺灣設立生產基地，其生產的壓鑄、注塑及加工中心設備遠銷至全球多個國家及地區，客戶中不乏國際知名品牌， 包括豐田汽車、通用汽車、富士康及美泰玩具等等。

力勁于2006 年在香港上市后，進一步開拓國際業務， 2008年收購了全球首屈一指的意大利壓鑄機制造商意德拉公司及其品牌「IDRA 」，為集團進軍歐洲市場打下重要基礎， 并造就其成為全球最大的壓鑄機制造商。

實踐產學研合作

近年， 傳統制造業面臨激烈的市場競爭壓力， 如何善用創新技術以提升自身優勢， 成為了廠商不得不思考的課題。作為行業先驅，劉相尚早于20 年前已開始透過產學研合作方式，帶領力勁走向高增值發展。

「2000 年，我們與北京清華大學共同創立清華–力勁壓鑄高新技術研究中心，研制出大噸位的鎂合金壓鑄機，填補了國內市場的技術空白。」至2008年，力勁又與香港理工大學合作，成功推出全球首部上射式微型注塑機，產品更于「第35屆日內瓦國際發明展」中勇奪金獎。

問到可有「貼士」予以一眾有意利用產學研合作，實現轉型升級的廠商？劉相尚說：「一個產學研合作計劃的成功， 往往取決于企業能否應用到合適的研發技術，因此，廠商在與學界研究團隊進行技術配對時，應委任對公司產品發展潛力有敏銳觸覺的員工，就各項研發技術作出謹慎判斷， 方能較易找到可提升產品價值， 又能為集團帶來較高投資回報的創新技術。」

著力技術提升

緊貼工業4.0的發展，力勁近年開始為不同制造業客戶提供全方位一站式的壓鑄、注塑和智能加工方案，同時不斷提升其機器配備的技術含量， 引進智能化、數據化、信息化以及節能環保等功能， 為客戶提高生產效益， 鼓勵他們邁向智能制造發展。

環顧當前壓鑄機的市場格局，劉相尚表示：「力勁的產品極具競爭力， 已經能與世界各國頂尖的壓鑄機生產商看齊。不過在注塑機方面，雖然目前內地注塑設備在中端、大型機器設備市場上甚具優勢， 惟在精密機器生產方面的競爭力， 則或較難與日本及德國等國媲美， 未來可繼續于高端市場力爭上游。」

2019年，力勁成功獲得美國著名電動車品牌的垂青，為其生產大型壓鑄設備。劉相尚坦言：「有壓力！因為相關的產品為全球首創， 是現時最大型的壓鑄機， 生產過程相當不容易。但是我們相信， 只要能夠成功突破這項技術， 將可為電動車行業帶來一個嶄新的生產模式。」

去年，力勁勇奪「2019 年香港名牌選舉」的「香港卓越名牌」，并憑著其研發的D CC5000 大型智能壓鑄機， 獲頒「2019 香港工商業獎︰ 設備及機械設計獎」，得到業界一致肯定。「我們要讓客戶得到最大的利益， 因為客戶的成功，便是我們的成功。」劉相尚娓娓道出力勁的企業核心價值。

開拓醫療設備市場

在新型冠狀病毒疫情下，劉相尚坦言：「自2018 年中美貿易戰開打后，不少廠商紛紛持觀望態度， 國內人民消費意欲亦大減， 令汽車銷售量下降，本以為2020 年情況有望向好，卻又碰上讓人始料不及的新冠疫情，以致訂單數目持續減少。」

然而，這段困難的日子卻驅使劉相尚重新審視力勁的業務， 冀為集團未來發展訂立新方向。「在疫情期間，醫用口罩的核心原材料– 熔噴布需求大增，我們最近便與香港城市大學合作生產熔噴布機器， 以可分解之塑料物料制成的熔噴布取代現有的熔噴不織布， 減少口罩棄置對環境造成的污染。」

「國內人口正急速老化， 我們計劃于不久的將來在『粵港澳大灣區』內拓展精密醫療儀器和復康產品生產設備市場， 如磁力共振機、測溫機和智能輪椅等等，開拓新的業務范疇， 并繼續緊貼國家的發展趨勢。」劉相尚說。

訪問期間，劉相尚總是保持微笑，十分親切。「相比起出外旅游玩樂， 我更愛工作，因為對我而言， 沒甚么比能鉆研一部機器，來得更有成就感。」或許就是這份對機械的熱愛， 令劉相尚在集團踏入40周年之際，仍能帶領公司不斷突破求新，在業界盡展鋒芒。

Though hisancestral home is in Guangdong, Liu was born into an overseas Chinese family inIndonesia. When he was young, he worked in an automotive repair factory run by his father. By the time he was 10, he hadalready learned to assemble an entire car. His career has focused on mechanicalequipment since those early days. However, during his formative years, his lifepath was not smooth.
 
“When I was a child studying in Indonesia, I was forced to return tothe Mainland to continue my education due to blockades at the Chinese languageschool. I had unexpectedly encountered the Cultural Revolution afterreturning to China, and I even experienced the Down to the Countryside Movementand was forced to live in the countryside. At that time, I thought I wasdestined to stop education.”

As Liu recalled the ups and downs of his youth, he smiled.He expressed his thankfulness for the unexpected interventions of fate that hadcultivated his strength to perseverance in the face of adversity.
     
In 1972, Liu moved to Hong Kong and was determined to take up his “old business”. Whileworking in a machine factory, he also studied in night school to learn moreabout machine manufacturing and factory operations. After years of hard work,Liu started his own business with the brand name LK in 1979 and engaged in theproduction of die-casting equipment.
     
 “The majority of die-casting machines available in the Hong Kongmarket were imported from Japan at a high price，resultingin a longer return on investment period. In contrast, the selling price of LK’s hot chamberdie-casting machines was three to five times lower than that of the importedequipment，and together with good product quality, LKgained acclaim in the local market.”
       
Pioneer of the Local Manufacturing Industry
　　
In the early 1980s, the Hong Kong watchand clock industry was in its glory days, largely due to LK’s contributions.

“At that time, making watch casesinvolved numerous time-consuming processes. However, our hot chamber diecastingmachine could produce a watch case in just a few seconds. So, the reason forthe export volume of Hong Kong’s watch industry beingranked No.1 in the world is closely related to LK’sbreakthrough in technology.”
　　
Innovative technical equipment not onlyenabled LK to gradually surpass Japanese manufacturers but also allowed thecompany to achieve a market share of over 60% to 70% in machine equipment for local watch cases.In the 1980s, LK also manufactured machines for local manufacturers of toys andother daily necessities, which provided support for Hong Kong manufacturers to enter the globalmarket.
      
Following the Development of China’s Reform and Opening-up
　　
Looking back on LK’s 40-year history, Liu emphasized that the company has not onlywitnessed the developments of China’s reform andopening-up in the past decades, but also developed alongside other Chineseenterprises. In 1991, LK officially entered the Mainland market and establishedLK Machinery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. In the early days, the company mainly focusedon manufacturing machines that produced daily necessities, such as keys andzippers, to meet the needs of individual businesses in the Mainland.
　　
“With the rise of the home appliancemarket in the Mainland in the 1990s, we began to develop machines for homeappliance production. By the mid-1990s and continuing through the 2000s,Chinese living standards had significantly improved, leading to an increase in trafficdemand. We gradually transformed our business from light to heavy industry byexpanding into machinery businesses for motorcycle and automobile production.”
　　
“Additionally, the rapid development ofsmartphones and networks and the increasing focus on environmental issues haveled to the birth of a new era, one involving 5G communication and electricvehicles. LK has also stepped up its R&D projects for related products”, Liu said.
　　
To cope with its business expansion inthe Mainland, LK set up production bases in Shanghai, Zhongshan,Ningbo, Fuxin(Liaoning), Kunshan (Jiangsu) and Taiwan.The die-casting and injection mouldingequipment, as well as CNC machining centres manufactured by LK, has beenexported to various countries and regions across the globe. LK’s customers include various internationally renowned brands, such asToyota, General Motors,Foxconn and Mattel.
   
After its public listing in Hong Kong in 2006, LK further expanded its international business.In 2008,LK acquired Idra, a world-leading die-casting machine manufacturer basedin Italy, along with its brand name.This laid a solid foundation for the groupto enter the European market, and LK became the world’slargest manufacturer of die-casting machines.

Achieving Industry-Academia Collaboration in R&D
   
The traditional manufacturing industry has been confronted with intense pressurefrom market competition.Therefore, it is essential for the manufacturingindustryto optimise its technological applications to enhance its comparativeadvantages.

As a pioneer in the industry, Liu has led LK towards high value-added products throughcooperation between industries, universities and research institutes. As Liustated, “In2000, we established the Tsinghua-L.K. Advanced Die-casting TechnologyResearch Centre with Tsinghua University, and we developed a large-tonnagemagnesium alloy die-casting machine to fill the technology gap in the Mainlandmarket.”By 2008, LK cooperated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University andhad launched the world’s first bottom-up high- precision plasticmicro-injection moulding machine, a product that received the “Gold Medal Awardat the 35th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.”

When asked if he had any tips for manufacturers who would like to leverage industry–academiacooperation to achieve transformation and upgrades, Liu replied that the essential success factor is whether themanufacturers can apply the most suitable technology in the manufacturing process.“When pairing technology with academic research teams, manufacturers shouldappoint employees who have a keen sense of product development to makejudgments on choosing the appropriate technologies that can help improve thevalue of the product and bring high returns.”

Focusing on Technological Enhancement

With theemergence of Industry 4.0, LK has begun to provide comprehensive die-casting,injection moulding and smart-machining solutions for customers of various manufacturingindustries. LK has been upgrading the technology aspects of its machinery tointroduce intelligent solutions, such as datamation and digitalisation, andenergysaving and environmental protection functions to improve customers’production efficiency, thus encouraging their customers to move towards smartmanufacturing.

In view of the current market for die-casting machines,Liu believes that LK’s products arevery competitive and can already be in line with the top die-casting machine manufacturersin various countries in the world. “China’s injection molding equipment is veryadvantageous in the mid-range and large-scale machinery and equipment market, butin terms of precision machinery production, it may be difficult for China tocompete with countries such as Japan and Germany. Local manufacturers cancontinue to strive for upstream in the high-end market.”

In 2019, LK successfully partnered with a well-known American electric vehicle company thathad produced the largest-scale die-casting machine available on the market worldwide.
   
 “Of course, that created a lot of pressure! The production processwas not easy, but we knew that as long as we could overcome the challenges ofthis technology, we could bring a brand-new production model to the electricvehicle industry”,Liu said.
      
Last year, LK won the “Hong Kong Premier Brand” in the 2019 Hong Kong Top Brand Awards. LKwas also conferred the Equipment and Machinery Design Award for its DCC5000 large-scale intelligent die-casting machinein the 2019 HongKong Awards for Industries. Liu attributes LK’s success to its underlyingmotivation: “We want our customers to get the most benefit because theirsuccess is our success,” he said in the interview.
       
Stepping into the Medical Equipment Market
     
The COVID-19 pandemic has had unexpected results.“Since the flare upof the Sino-US trade disputes in 2018,many manufacturers have adopted await-and-see attitude. Consumer sentiment in the Mainland has greatly reduced,whichhas led to the decline of motor vehicles’ sales volume.At first, we thought thesituation might improve in 2020, but we were unexpectedly faced with theCOVID-19 pandemic,causing a continuing decline in orders”, Liu described.
     
These difficult times have driven Liu to re-examine his business and to set a new direction forLK’s future development. LK has seized the opportunity of surging demand formelt-blown cloth, the core material of making medical masks, “We havecooperated with the City University of Hong Kong to develop melt-blown clothmachines to produce decomposable plastic fabrics in the hope of reducing thepollution caused by traditional disposable masks.”
    
He also sees the silver economy as a new business opportunity. “With the aging population in theMainland, we are planning to expand the production of precision medical instruments and rehabilitation equipment,such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, thermometers and smart wheelchairs,in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the near future. As wecontinue to explore our scope of business, we will keep ourselves abreast ofnational development trends.”
    
During the interview, Liu was always smiling. “I love working more than traveling orentertainment,” he confided;“there is nothing morefulfilling to me than developing a machine.” Perhaps Liu’s love of machineryhas allowed him to continue leading the company after its 40th anniversary,strivingto break new ground and stand out in the industry.

內容來源：香港中華廠商聯合會