On December 11th, the sixth interview team of the "Talking Shandong Online" series of external publicity activities visited Weifang. Cui Hongbo, Deputy General Manager of Weifang Shengtai Medicine Co., Ltd., was interviewed by reporters, discussing how to bring corn to the world's dining tables and medicine bottles.
As a group enterprise with corn deep processing as its core business, Shengtai Pharmaceutical has been in operation for over two decades, with products covering multiple fields such as pharmaceutical raw materials and food additives. In 2024, with its pharmaceutical glucose workshop obtaining FDA certification in the United States, the company's globalization process entered a new stage.
"International certification is not only an acknowledgment of quality, but also a 'passport' to open up different national markets," Cui Hongbo summarized the company's core strategy for "going global." Behind these seemingly simple words lies a precise and rigorous international certification and registration system built by Shengtai Pharmaceutical.
System Certification Builds a Global Passport Matrix
In the pharmaceutical field, Shengtai Pharmaceutical has successively passed US DMF registration, EU CEP registration, Japanese JDMF registration, and pharmaceutical GMP certification, culminating in last year's acquisition of the most challenging US FDA certification. In the food sector, the company has built a complete system including FSSC22000, Indonesian BPJPH and international HALAL certification, KOSHER certification, IP and Non-GMO certification.
“Each certificate is a precise response to the specific market regulations and cultural needs,” said Cui Hongbo. He explained that after the pharmaceutical glucose workshop obtained FDA certification, it not only consolidated its position in the US market but also generated a chain reaction, driving breakthroughs in markets such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, and South America. This certification matrix has earned Shengtai Pharmaceutical the trust of international customers. When products simultaneously possess multiple certifications such as Halal, Kosher, and Non-GMO, it means they can meet diverse needs from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, from North America to Europe, significantly enhancing the company's brand value.
Dual-Engine Development of R&D and Market Expansion
In Cui Hongbo's view, certifications are “passports,” while R&D strength is the “internal driving force” for the company to navigate the international market. Shengtai Pharmaceutical has two R&D centers in the east and west, and three provincial-level R&D platforms. 64% of the company's full-time R&D team holds master's degrees, and the company has attracted top talent, including three experts from the Taishan Talent Project. This team has compiled and registered 23 enterprise standards and obtained 64 authorized patents. In terms of market expansion, the company has formed a combined model of "exhibition-driven lead generation + on-site in-depth expansion." The Shengtai team can be seen at top international industry exhibitions such as CPHI World Pharmaceutical Ingredients Exhibition, FIC China International Food Additives Exhibition, Fi Europe, and the IFT exhibition in the United States.
"We adhere to the strategy of 'going out, going in, and connecting,'" Cui Hongbo explained. "Going out means participating in exhibitions, going in means visiting customers in person to understand their needs, and connecting means establishing long-term and stable cooperative relationships." This strategy has significantly improved the company's market expansion efficiency.
Full-chain layout extending value from raw materials to end products
Shengtai Pharmaceutical has built a complete industrial chain starting with corn. Its annual corn processing capacity of 700,000 tons is transformed into various products such as corn starch, modified starch, crystalline glucose, and liquid glucose. These products flow globally along two main lines: one to the pharmaceutical field, entering pharmaceutical production lines in various countries as raw materials and excipients; the other to the food field, appearing on the tables of consumers worldwide as food additives. The company's products are widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, papermaking, fine chemicals, and bioengineering, forming a cross-industry integrated product matrix. This full-chain layout enables the company to flexibly respond to changes in demand in different markets and occupy a favorable position in the global supply chain.
Looking towards the "15th Five-Year Plan," Shengtai Pharmaceutical has planned three major construction projects: a 100,000-ton-per-year specialty corn starch project, a 150,000-ton-per-year premium starch sugar project, and the continued construction of the 220,000-ton-per-year high-end starch premix intelligent manufacturing project of Gerunmaier. These three projects represent a total investment of 900 million yuan and are expected to generate an additional 4.1 billion yuan in sales revenue. "These projects will open up new growth opportunities for us, especially in the high-end niche market," Cui Hongbo revealed.
Today, Shengtai Pharmaceutical's cargo ships are sailing to more distant seaports, while on the production line in Weifang, deeply processed corn products are being packaged, ready to embark on a new international journey. From simple raw material exports to providing specialty products that meet the unique needs of various countries, Shengtai Pharmaceutical's overseas expansion demonstrates a principle: in the global market, only companies that respect differences, adapt to standards, and cultivate value can achieve steady and long-term success.
