On May 8, 2025, the ancient city of Kaifeng witnessed a historic moment for the air separation industry—the grand inauguration of the Kaifeng Air Separation Industry Association. Experts, scholars, corporate leaders from across China’s air separation sector, and provincial and municipal government officials gathered to celebrate this milestone, marking Kaifeng’s transition toward intensive and standardized development in the air separation industry.
The ceremony commenced with the solemn national anthem. Attendees included Fu Chunggan, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Gas Association; Kaifeng municipal leaders Yin Jun, Liu Haichao, and Zhang Zhigang; heads of municipal departments such as the United Front Work Department, Federation of Industry and Commerce (FIC), Civil Affairs Bureau, and Social Work Department; and representatives from 32 council member organizations. Wang Yali, Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau’s Approval Division, and Li Linlin, Director of the FIC’s Economic Liaison Department, officially announced the association’s establishment approval, granting it formal recognition.
In his address, Liu Haichao, a municipal leader, highlighted that Kaifeng, as the “National Air Separation Characteristic Industry Base,” regards the air separation sector as a pillar of its “Manufacturing-Driven City” strategy. He emphasized that the association’s founding is a critical step to address industry challenges and integrate resources, urging it to act as a “navigator” for enterprises to boost Kaifeng’s high-quality economic growth. Fu Chunggan, representing the China Gas Association, congratulated the association’s establishment and pledged collaboration to drive technological innovation and build a national air separation industry ecosystem.
Mr. He Baotang, founder of Kaifeng DEAR Air Separation Industrial Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “DEAR Air Separation”), delivered the Report on the Preparation Work for Establishing the Kaifeng Air Separation Industry Association. As the core leader of the preparatory team, he reviewed the entire process, noting that the association’s creation was an inevitable response to “uniting industry strength and breaking development bottlenecks” amid rising competition and insufficient collaboration. During preparations, the team visited over 10 enterprises and recruited 116 member companies from Kaifeng and beyond, establishing an organizational framework spanning the entire air separation industry chain.
Mr. He Baotang outlined a visionary roadmap for the association’s future:
Strengthen Industry Self-Discipline: Develop standardized conventions to curb malicious competition and foster a healthy market environment.
Promote Technological Innovation: Build industry-academia-research platforms to help enterprises master core technologies and transition toward high-end and intelligent transformation.
Deepen Government-Enterprise Collaboration: Serve as a bridge to convey corporate needs, implement policies, and empower industrial upgrading.
Expand Global Perspectives: Organize international exchanges and exhibitions to elevate the “Kaifeng Air Separation” brand and integrate into global supply chains.
His philosophy of “prioritizing industry development and aligning with corporate demands” resonated strongly with attendees.
The assembly elected the inaugural leadership team, with Mr. Wu Ruilin, Chairman of Kaiyuan Air Separation, elected as President. Mr. He Baotang, renowned for his industry expertise and DEAR Air Separation’s social responsibility efforts, was appointed Secretary-General and Vice President—a testament to both his personal capabilities and DEAR Air Separation’s long-standing contributions to the field.
As a key member of the leadership, DEAR Air Separation demonstrated exceptional responsibility and execution during the event’s preparation. Mr. He Baotang personally oversaw logistics, mobilizing a dedicated team to manage venue setup, agenda planning, and guest coordination, ensuring seamless proceedings. From technical experts to administrative staff, the entire company united under the principle of “serving the industry family,” guaranteeing the ceremony’s success.
Mr. He Baotang pledged to fulfill his role with “strategic vision and broad-mindedness,” guiding the association to “build platforms, pool resources, and spur innovation.” He emphasized that the association will not only act as a “booster” for corporate growth but also become a “new emblem” for Kaifeng’s air separation industry on the national stage. DEAR Air Separation, aligning with China’s “dual-circulation” strategy and Henan’s “Manufacturing Powerhouse Province” initiative, will continue advancing R&D, green manufacturing, and industry chain collaboration, joining fellow members to build a globally competitive air separation industrial cluster.
The ceremony culminated with municipal leader Yin Jun and President Wu Ruilin unveiling the association’s plaque, officially launching the Kaifeng Air Separation Industry Association. This platform signifies Kaifeng’s shift from “fragmented growth” to “collaborative success.” Guided by the city’s outstanding air separation enterprises, the association will soar on the wings of innovation and self-discipline, writing a new chapter where “China’s Air Separation Industry Looks to Kaifeng,” injecting robust momentum into the nation’s high-end equipment manufacturing sector!
