Can you please start by providing a brief overview of Four Stars Glass’ history and how the company has developed since being founded?

In 1998, Four Stars, via state-owned CPMIC, imported the first-ever container of Schott neutral borosilicate tubing at 18,000 yuan/t, 30 days after arrival.

In 2000, Four Stars signed a five-year contract with Schott, and during this time, sales doubled.

By 2003, as Schott reneged on the contract, they opened a representative office in Shanghai with a price hike of 25,000 yuan/t and a demand of six months’ cash up front, which triggered CPPA action.

In November 2005, CPPA gathered five leading buyers to negotiate a 15% reduction with Schott. Schott refused to negotiate on the price and Wang Huanyi, chairman of Four Stars, announced that: “We’ll make it ourselves.”
The next day, Chairman Wang launched the self-built project.

In 2006, premises were found in Cangzhou and the ‘All-Electric Vello’ route was chosen.

Fast forward to December 2007, Four Stars had a one-litre furnace, pulling 24mm tubing. China’s first Vello line broke Schott’s 17-year monopoly.