After more than 20 years, a Taiwan entrepreneur built both a thriving industrial dust-collection equipment business and a happy family in the eastern Chinese city of Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, a manufacturing hub with many Taiwanese companies.
Chang Kuo-Hsi, general manager of PanGeng Electromechanical Equipment and a regional leader in industrial dust-collection systems, has made important contributions to local environmental standards and workplace safety for factory workers.
Twenty years ago, he started from scratch.
"I came to the Chinese mainland in March 2004 and began working here. My first job was working with industrial blowers. I studied electronics, totally unrelated to my work. After entering the industry through a sales role, I started my own business in February 2016," he recalled.
Supportive local policies helped him get off the ground despite limited funds.
"For Taiwan entrepreneurs here, the main difficulty lies in financing. At the beginning, my starting capital was only around 120,000 to 150,000 RMB. Thanks to an entrepreneurship program for Taiwan youth in Kunshan, I received support with company registration, and many policy-related procedures were streamlined, significantly shortening the overall process," he said.
At the time, traditional industries showed little interest in environmental protection. That began to change after China updated its Work Safety Law in 2021, requiring factories to place greater emphasis on workplace safety, urging them to invest in environmental equipment.
"Traditional industries are often hesitant to enter the environmental protection sector. Since it does not directly boost production, they tend to see it as an added cost. Industrial development has made this possible, due in part to the Work Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, updated in 2021. Environmental protection equipment and workplace safety are actually inseparable. Following the implementation of the new Workplace Safety Law, I help small and medium-sized enterprises improve safety practices, addressing gaps and enhancing compliance across the board," he said.
His dust-collection systems have proven effective, prompting clients to increase investment.
"During tea production, a certain amount of tea dust and fine particles is normally generated, which can cause discomfort for workers. Since we started using Mr. Chang's equipment, our employees have not reported any such issues. Looking ahead, we have three additional backup workshops, and we plan to install three new dust-collection systems there as well," said Cheng Lin-Ta, CEO of Kunshan Huashan Jinwei Tea Industry.
In recent years, Chang's team has assisted dozens of local businesses, improving both workplace conditions and air quality.
"From preliminary planning to detailed design, the construction team follows all relevant specifications and requirements. As a result, the timeline can vary — from as short as one month to as long as three or four months," he said.
"Since 2016, we have completed dust collection system upgrades for about 70 to 80 enterprises in the Suzhou region, including Kunshan. Gradually, the chances of seeing clear blue skies and white clouds in Kunshan have increased significantly. Now, on any fine day, the sky is truly blue with white clouds. This is a very visible improvement," he said.
Beyond business success, Chang also found love in Kunshan.
"In this case, having been here for 21 years, I got to know her through an introduction from my business friend. We got married in 2012. At first, I could not understand the Luzhou dialect spoken by her parents and relatives, so I could only nod and go along. I had already mentioned that I could not eat spicy food, but in the end, there was still a hint of chili in the dishes. To them, it probably did not even count as spicy. And well, there is no problem that a hotpot meal cannot solve!" he said.
Now settled with his own family, Chang says he feels at home on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
"Taiwan is still my hometown. Perhaps I should say, I have grown more accustomed to life here now. Both places feel like home to me," he said.
Taiwan entrepreneur devotes 20 years to environmental protection, workplace safety on mainland
