The Phase II project of Shandong Keju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., constructed with an investment of 500 million yuan, has now largely completed workshop renovations, and equipment has been installed and is undergoing commissioning. Upon operation, the base will be capable of producing 100 million bottles (or units) of various marine biological preparation products annually, achieving an annual output value of 1 billion yuan.
Rooted in the extensive health industry, Shandong Keju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. entered the Medical Device and Biomedicine Industrial Park of the High-tech Zone in 2018. It has continuously engaged in the research, development, and production of health foods, dietary nutritional supplements, and similar products. Recognized as a High-tech Enterprise in Shandong Province, the company serves as a supplier to major leading enterprises such as North China Pharmaceutical. Last year, the company’s main business revenue grew by nearly 133%, with its market share ranking among the top ten in the province.
Having achieved a significant expansion leap within five years, why does Keju Pharmaceutical continue to increase its investment and become a repeat investor in the High-tech Zone?
Inside Keju Pharmaceutical’s production workshop, filled calcium and vitamin D soft capsules are continuously conveyed to the bottling room for automatic packaging. According to General Manager Yang Mingdong, this is a recent best-selling product. It uses calcium citrate as the calcium source, and combining vitamin D3 with calcium citrate is more conducive to calcium absorption.
This is just one of Keju Pharmaceutical’s over 400 products. “Since entering the park, we have been able to focus solely on research and production without worrying about external matters. Building the factory here was truly the right choice,” Yang Mingdong said. He added that the park not only provides complete hardware supporting facilities such as water, electricity, and steam but is also highly professional. “For biomedical enterprises, clean rooms are essential. The workshop floor height in the park fully meets clean room construction requirements. Moreover, its proximity to the Food and Drug Inspection and Testing Research Institute significantly reduces testing costs.”
The initial investment stemmed from the company’s recognition of the High-tech Zone’s professional park and dynamic industrial chain. The decision to increase capital, expand production, and become a repeat investor arose from finding the “gateway to opportunity” within the excellent business environment.
Following a park-organized bank-enterprise matching session last year, Keju Pharmaceutical successfully secured two loans: a technology branch loan and an intellectual property pledge loan. This substantial financial support bolstered the company’s confidence in purchasing workshops, equipment, and raw materials for the Phase II project.
“The District Commerce Bureau took only one month from learning about our expansion needs to finalizing a suitable workshop. The new facility is just a 15-minute walk from the current plant. The project also received extensive support, with construction starting in March and operations scheduled to commence by the end of July. All of this has strengthened our confidence in putting down roots in the High-tech Zone and growing the company stronger and larger,” Yang Mingdong stated.
Intellectual property can also “bring” assets through loans. Having tasted the benefits brought by technological innovation, Keju Pharmaceutical continues to increase research and development investment to create more new products. In the company’s laboratory, a new product, the Sea Cucumber and American Ginseng Dual Ginseng Capsule, is undergoing testing. Researchers are meticulously measuring the content and uniformity of active components such as total saponins and proteins.
“Through technical collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, American ginseng and sea cucumber can better leverage their nutritional value,” said Li Zhenxing, head of the company’s Research and Development Department. He noted that the company has always adhered to technological innovation and independent research and development, having obtained 27 intellectual property rights related to its products, including two invention patents and 25 utility model patents.