江苏隐形富豪，靠卖小家电，悄悄“称王”

Core Insights - The article highlights the remarkable journey of Ni Zugen, the founder of Lek Electric, who built a nearly 10 billion yuan cleaning appliance giant from scratch with an initial loan of 30,000 USD [3][32] - Lek Electric has become an "invisible champion" in the vacuum cleaner industry, producing over 270 million small appliances, including more than 200 million vacuum cleaners by 2024 [5][32] Company Background - Ni Zugen was born in 1957 in a poor rural area of Jiangsu and started working in agriculture at a young age [5] - After serving in the military, he became an engineer at Chunhua Electric Appliance Factory, where he focused on improving motor quality [8][9] - In 1994, he founded Suzhou Jinlaike Electric Co., the predecessor of Lek Electric, with a focus on creating the best vacuum cleaners [9][20] Innovation and Growth - Lek Electric adopted an original design manufacturer model, emphasizing independent research and development rather than traditional OEM practices [9][20] - The company achieved significant milestones, including the production of the first domestic high-performance vacuum cleaner motor with a speed exceeding 30,000 RPM in 1997 [11][22] - By 2004, Lek Electric became the largest vacuum cleaner manufacturer globally, with an annual production of 8 million units [11][22] Diversification Strategy - To sustain growth amid a slowing market, Lek Electric pursued a diversification strategy, expanding into garden tools and kitchen appliances while leveraging its core motor technology [13][15][16] - The company launched its own brand "LEXY" in 2009, transitioning from an OEM to a brand-driven enterprise [19][20] - Lek Electric successfully entered the water purification market with innovative products, further broadening its business scope [22][26] International Expansion - In response to challenges such as the US-China trade war, Lek Electric began establishing overseas manufacturing facilities, starting with Vietnam [26][30] - The company faced initial setbacks during the construction of its Vietnamese factory but managed to complete it under tight deadlines, significantly increasing production capacity [30][32] - By 2024, Lek Electric's brand value exceeded 10 billion yuan, with revenues of 9.765 billion yuan and net profits of 1.23 billion yuan, exporting to over 100 countries [32][33]