In the field of optoelectronic packaging, a company named Hostechn is gradually emerging with its outstanding technical capabilities and high-quality services. Specializing in providing premium optical coupling automation solutions, the company currently holds a 20% to 30% market share in the domestic sector.

The three founders of Hostechn Automation Technology Co., Ltd. are engaged in technological research and development

Dozens of devices meet the needs of various industries

What is coupling? "Coupling is the core process in optical component manufacturing, accounting for 60% to 70% of the total production cost and time for optical components. It demands extremely high precision. The moment we apply power, electricity is converted into a beam of light, which initially has a relatively large area. We then use a lens to transform it into parallel light, followed by another lens to focus it, and finally, perfectly guide it into the optical fiber—this is coupling," explained Lu Shengqiang, General Manager of Hostechn, to reporters. "The smallest lens specifications we couple at our company are as small as 0.5*0.5*0.5 millimeters, with linear displacement accuracy of 50 nanometers and spatial angle accuracy of 0.002 degrees. The technical difficulty is equivalent to finding a tiny flying insect in a room."

Since its establishment, Hostechn has been committed to technological innovation and equipment development. Currently, the company possesses dozens of types of equipment, becoming the "machine tool" for optoelectronic components. Whether it is small lasers used in 5G communication, fiber-to-the-home, and optical sensing, or high-power lasers for laser cutting, welding, marking, as well as laser medical and defense applications, none of these can be achieved without Hostechn equipment.

Independent R&D breaks the monopoly of foreign equipment

Looking back on the company's development journey, it has been filled with hardships and challenges.

During my postgraduate studies, I chose the topic of optoelectronic packaging and successfully developed some transferable scientific and technological achievements. Later, my junior colleagues Xu Cong and Tang Jia joined the team, working together to delve deeper into this research. Lu Shengqiang recalled the team's experiences on campus with deep emotion.

In 2014, taking the China International Optics Fair as an opportunity, they showcased domestically produced fully automated equipment to the public under the name of the university team, garnering widespread attention. "At that time, there were no publicly available domestic devices, and we were the first," Tang Jia said proudly.

However, enterprises at that time were cautious about collaborating with schools due to concerns over mass production, technical services, and technological iterations

Faced with adversity, Lu Shengqiang and his two companions did not retreat. With their exceptional technical expertise, they gradually gained market recognition. By 2015, the fiber-optic入户 coverage rate had exceeded 60%. Using an initial investment of over 100,000 yuan, the trio officially established Hostechn. Leveraging upgraded domestic fully automated equipment, they broke the monopoly of foreign high-priced devices in multiple processes of optoelectronic component packaging. To date, they have supplied over 1,000 sets of automated packaging equipment to more than 50 enterprises in the domestic and international optoelectronic industry, reducing production costs in the sector and promoting the popularization and advancement of optoelectronic technology.

"Now our equipment is not only cheaper than foreign counterparts, but under the same conditions of producing products with equivalent performance, our production efficiency is 1 to 2 times, or even more, higher than that of foreign equipment. As a result, there are almost no domestic enterprises purchasing imported equipment anymore," Xu Cong explained.

Nowadays,Hostechn has developed into a high-tech enterprise with over 60 employees and more than 30 research and development personnel. Its products and services have covered more than 50 well-known enterprises at home and abroad.

Next year, Hostechn plans to participate in the Munich Optoelectronic Exhibition in Germany to further expand its international market. At the same time, they also hope to establish closer cooperation with financial institutions such as Changsha Bank, share upstream and downstream customer resources, and jointly promote the prosperous development of the optoelectronic packaging field.

Sanxiang Metropolis Daily Full-Media Reporter Pan Xianxuan Correspondent Teng Jiangjiang