Against the backdrop of rapid development in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, and other sectors, market demands for container cleanliness have grown increasingly stringent. As a key equipment ensuring product quality, bottle washers have drawn significant attention for their technological upgrades and market applications. In the Food Science and Engineering Laboratory of South China University of Technology, there once was a young researcher who, little did she know, would later lead a team to bring independently developed bottle washers to hundreds of domestic pharmaceutical companies, government laboratories, and even overseas markets.

This is the story of Qiu Yueyi, founder of STIER (GUANGZHOU) INSTRUMENT CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as "STIER"), who shared insights into STIER’s technological strengths and industry development trends.

Cutting-Edge Craftsmanship + The World’s First Laboratory Cleaning Database

"Though often regarded as auxiliary laboratory equipment, bottle washers boast substantial technical content," Qiu explained. The core logic of bottle washers lies in multi-angle cleaning of vessel interiors and exteriors via high-pressure spray technology. The performance of core modules—such as cleaning, filtration, and heating temperature control systems—directly determines cleaning efficacy.

Bottle washers operate with cleaning agents like acids, alkalis, and organic solvents under high-temperature conditions, imposing stringent requirements on design, material selection, and assembly processes. "Some poorly designed products leak during use; worse, one can hear the 'bang' of steel plate deformation due to excessive steam pressure when standing nearby. Our products never have such issues," Qiu emphasized.

Her confidence stems from the team’s dedication to hardware and craftsmanship: STIER uses imported core components, such as German Hanning pumps and Italian Zoppas heating rods. The stainless steel body undergoes anti-fingerprint brushed anti-fingerprint treatment, a process alone costing 5,000 yuan more than conventional treatments. A patented condenser prevents indoor steam emission, eliminating the need for connection to ventilation systems. The modular basket design, flexible like "building blocks," enables simultaneous cleaning of various vessel types. "We were among the first domestic manufacturers to adopt modular design, and as our products improved, the market gradually aligned with our standards," Qiu noted.

Beyond hardware, STIER’s "soft power" is equally impressive. Compounds vary drastically in properties—from "water-soluble" and "poorly water-soluble" to "water-insoluble"—creating complex cleaning needs. This is why STIER recruits professionals from high-caliber pharmaceutical companies: they deeply understand compound properties. When facing unfamiliar compounds, the team precisely analyzes their dissolution patterns and cleaning conditions under different environments to develop tailored cleaning solutions.

Backed by a technical team with pharmaceutical backgrounds led by Lai Jianmei, STIER built the world’s first laboratory cleaning database, transforming massive practical experience into standardized solutions. "Clients only need to specify the substances to be cleaned and cleanliness requirements, and we can immediately provide accurate solutions, sparing them repeated trials," Qiu added.

3 Years of Dedication: Building a Quality Moat with Passion

"A graduate in engineering, I’ve always had a obsession with manufacturing and a natural love for machines, from my student days to work," Qiu said, her eyes lighting up when talking about her entrepreneurial motivation. After graduation, she turned down offers from renowned companies like Nestlé and YKK to work in sales at an instrument company, later shifting to importing and distributing foreign instruments.

While distributing a German bottle washer brand, she identified a critical pain point: "weak after-sales support and high costs for imported equipment." A thought emerged: "Why not create a Chinese bottle washer brand?" In 2013, this idea took root. Qiu joined forces with Lin Jiaming, former R&D director at Galanz (holder of 796 cleaning patents and participant in drafting multiple national standards), and Lai Jianmei, former quality manager at several southern Chinese pharmaceutical companies. The three-person team embarked on the journey of independent R&D for bottle washers.

Early R&D challenges exceeded expectations. After over a year, the prototype still lacked stability. "Every day, I questioned 'can we really do this?' Finally, we made the bold decision to replace the entire R&D team and start over. Our current R&D, manufacturing, and testing engineers mostly come from manufacturing giants like Galanz, while application engineers started as QC managers in pharmaceutical companies. In the bottle washer industry, we haven’t seen a more high-caliber technical team," Qiu stated.

This decisive commitment yielded dual success in market share and user reputation. According to 2024 domestic bottle washer bidding data, STIER ranked first in total winning bid amount, with a 40%-50% market share in southwest China, including Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, and Guizhou. "We lag in market visibility, but users are discerning. If our products truly deliver cleanliness, they’re willing to endorse us—some even actively introduce our products at exhibitions, which touches me deeply," Qiu said.

Looking to the Global Cleaning & Disinfection Track: "The World Will Increasingly Value Chinese Manufacturing"

Amid intensifying market competition, Qiu already has a plan: "The bottle washer market is limited, so we need to expand the 'cleaning and disinfection' sector." Beyond Laboratory Glassware Washer, STIER has launched Multi-Function Washer-Disinfector, Cabinet Cage Washer and disinfection machines, and medical cleaning machines. Revenues from new businesses are expected to soon match those from bottle washers.

Overseas market breakthroughs are progressing steadily. "Foreign users have low expectations for Chinese manufacturing, but we’re gradually changing that perception with our products," Qiu smiled and shared. Many foreign clients initially focused only on price, but after visiting the factory and seeing the products in person, they invariably exclaim: "You’ve evolved to this level!" This recognition reinforces her belief: "In the future, the world will increasingly hold Chinese manufacturing in high regard."

As she has always adhered to: "Good food is worth the wait. As long as what’s served is stands the test, even if progress is slow, it’s more than worthwhile."