IKE Wins Dual Honors at the 2025 Heat Pump Drying Industry Awards

On March 1, 2025, at the "2nd Annual Drying Industry Decision-Makers Spring Summit," hosted by Heat Pump magazine and Green Drying Times under the guidance of the China Energy Conservation Association’s Heat Pump Committee, IKE (Guangdong IKE Industrial Co., Ltd.) achieved a remarkable milestone. Recognized for its outstanding contributions to the heat pump drying industry, IKE was honored with two prestigious awards: "Top 10 Landmark Engineering Projects in the 2025 Heat Pump Drying Industry" and "2025 Heat Pump Drying Industry Innovation Award for New-Quality Productivity." These accolades not only affirm IKE’s technological expertise and project implementation capabilities but also reinforce its leadership in driving industry transformation through innovation.

Pioneering Technology: Setting the Benchmark for the Industry

As a frontrunner in the heat pump drying sector, IKE has always placed technological innovation at the core of its competitiveness. The company was among the pioneers in developing and promoting closed-loop dehumidification heat pump drying technology and has remained committed to its advancement, firmly believing in its potential to become the mainstream technology for heat pump drying. Over the past decade, IKE has continuously refined this technology, establishing itself as a benchmark of professionalism and craftsmanship in the industry.

With over 100 patents and involvement in drafting six national industry standards, IKE has significantly contributed to standardizing and popularizing closed-loop dehumidification heat pump drying. The company has earned a stellar reputation among distributors and users, thanks to its technological leadership and unwavering commitment to quality.

Heat pump drying is among the most technically demanding applications of heat pump technology. The evaporator must operate within a temperature range from sub-zero to 80°C and handle humidity levels between 1% and 99%, while the condenser must accommodate environmental temperatures between 0°C and 80°C. This results in operating conditions that are tens of times more complex than air conditioning systems, making expertise and experience essential for success.

Despite market challenges, IKE has adhered to its brand philosophy of “Quality Builds Prestige, Integrity Earns Trust”, focusing on delivering superior products and services rather than engaging in price wars. By maintaining strong relationships with distributors and end-users, IKE has built a resilient and sustainable business foundation, continuously strengthening its technological and service capabilities.

Innovative Business Models: Addressing Industry Pain Points

The agricultural drying industry has long faced challenges such as high equipment costs and low utilization rates. To address these issues, IKE has introduced innovative business models, including "rent-to-own," full leasing, and shared-use options." The company has transformed its drying units into portable, weather-resistant, plug-and-play modules, significantly reducing initial investment and transportation costs for farmers.

IKE’s mobile drying chamber project integrates washing, drying, and packaging equipment into a rental-based shared system, enhancing efficiency and increasing farmers’ income. This “asset-light, high-flexibility” approach not only alleviates financial pressure on distributors but also creates new employment opportunities, fostering a shift toward a service-oriented and shared economy within the drying industry.

With over a decade of expertise, IKE has developed a comprehensive standardized system for drying solutions. Its S-Series Universal Mobile Closed-Loop Heat Pump Drying System enables both distributors and users to set up and operate within just 30 minutes. IKE has standardized various aspects of its drying chambers, including dimensions (2m width, 2m height, 3-7m length), materials (stainless steel), airflow, pressure, and tray design, achieving seamless integration across 12 heat pump models and 5 chamber types—allowing up to 60 possible system combinations to meet the drying needs of 99% of agricultural products.

Designed for outdoor operation without the need for dedicated facilities, the system is optimized for flat, hanging, and stacked drying, maximizing space utilization. The modular, weatherproof, and high-density design makes it ideal for rental and shared use, transforming the industry’s traditional ownership model.

IKE has also developed a wireless connectivity and monitoring system, allowing distributors and users to remotely monitor drying processes in real-time and access the latest drying data via an online platform. The system supports WeChat Pay, facilitating seamless rental transactions, further propelling the industry into the era of shared and leased drying equipment.

Innovating for a Sustainable Future

A testament to IKE’s excellence, its "50-Ton Per Day Goji Berry Smart Drying Project in Bole, Xinjiang" was recognized among the "Top 10 Landmark Engineering Projects in the 2025 Heat Pump Drying Industry." This project, valued at approximately 8.6 million RMB, represents one of the largest single-client fruit and vegetable drying installations in China. By providing a complete turnkey solution, including heat pump dryers, drying chambers, and conveyor systems, IKE has significantly enhanced the efficiency and quality of specialty agricultural products in Xinjiang.

The Innovation Award for New-Quality Productivity further solidifies IKE’s position as an industry leader. Through standardized production, intelligent control, and low-carbon operation, IKE is driving the agricultural processing industry’s transition from traditional energy dependence to clean energy solutions. Aligned with China’s "dual carbon" strategy and agricultural modernization goals, IKE remains committed to accelerating the adoption of heat pump drying technology across sectors such as grain, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, contributing to a more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable global drying industry.

Additionally, IKE collaborates with South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other leading research institutions to establish industry-academia-research bases. These partnerships have enabled the development of thousands of optimized drying process curves, which are seamlessly integrated into IKE’s wireless monitoring system, further enhancing user convenience and drying efficiency.

From precision manufacturing in telecommunication equipment to pioneering advancements in heat pump drying, IKE’s 30-year commitment to innovation exemplifies the evolution of "Made in China" to "Intelligently Manufactured in China."

These dual industry awards are not just a mark of recognition but also a call to action. Looking ahead, IKE Chairman Chen Qiwen emphasized:
"This achievement marks a new beginning for us. We will continue to deepen our expertise in the heat pump drying sector, striving to surpass an annual sales target of 100 million RMB. By driving more landmark engineering projects, we aim to deliver sustainable, cutting-edge solutions that support the global transition to green and low-carbon industries."