Zhejiang Xinfan Hvac Intelligent Control Co Ltd based in Yuhuan, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Zhejiang Xinfan Hvac Intelligent Control Co Ltd, which was a family workshop more than two decades ago, has emerged as a "little giant" enterprise designated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

"Little giant" enterprises are outstanding high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential, advanced technology, and strong market competitiveness.

Headquartered in Yuhuan, a county-level city of Taizhou, Xinfan is a comprehensive solution provider of whole-house heating systems and sells products including water separators, brass ball valves and heating instruments.

A business trip to East China's Shandong province in 2000 inspired Jiang Linghui, president of Xinfan to become involved in the floor heating sector. During the trip, Jiang got to learn about water separators and collectors that were used to connect various water pipes in flooring heating systems, which was still an emerging market in China dominated by Japanese and South Korean products at that time.

Jiang then developed a water separator and obtained China's first water separator appearance patent before founding Xinfan in 2021.

The company now has established partnerships with more than 200 clients in over 30 countries and regions worldwide. Its overseas sales account for nearly 70 percent of its total.

According to Jiang, the proportion of R&D expenses in the company's sales revenue stand at 7 percent, and the spending is expected to grow at a pace of 3.5 percent year-on-year in the coming years.