A small roll of "FORWA" brand thread seal tape actually fulfilled a private enterprise's entrepreneurial dream, making it a leader in the global Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thread seal tape industry and the "King of Thread Seal Tape," creating a corporate myth. The one who created this legendary myth is Zeng Yanfei, general manager of Guangdong PTFE Products Factory Co., Ltd., and his "FORWA people."

Twenty years of wind and rain, twenty years of unforgettable memories. An old photo of only five people starting the business at that time witnessed the courage and passion of the first generation of FORWA people, represented by Zeng Yanfei, in their arduous entrepreneurship.

The Beginning of the Business

In the autumn of 1993, it was the harvest season in Lingnan. The small thread seal tape factory founded by Zeng Yanfei in Sihui, Guangdong, was born amid the blessings of relatives and friends and the deafening sound of firecrackers.

As the smoke slowly cleared, Zeng Yanfei led four workers in a workshop-like small factory and began producing Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thread seal tape.

The thread seal tape was quickly produced in the small workshop factory. Zeng Yanfei and several workers looked at the results obtained through their hard work and were so happy that they forgot their fatigue. Zeng Yanfei gave his product a resounding brand: "FORWA." From then on, FORWA brand thread seal tape began to appear in major wholesale markets in Guangzhou.

One day, Zeng Yanfei took his products to the Shuiyin Road wholesale market in Guangzhou and found Boss Yang of the largest thread sealing material wholesale firm. After asking about his purpose, Boss Yang said: "To cooperate, it's simple. You produce 'Shishi brand thread seal tape' for me as an OEM, and I will immediately place an order of 30,000 yuan."

At that time, Shishi brand thread seal tape was a dominant brand in the thread seal tape market in the 1990s, and many places were producing Shishi brand thread seal tape as OEM. This proposal from Boss Yang was very tempting for Zeng Yanfei, who had just started his business a few days earlier.

However, after careful consideration, Zeng Yanfei still rejected Boss Yang's proposal. Zeng Yanfei thought, "I have staked all my assets on thread seal tape. I cannot sacrifice the future for immediate interests." He decided to still build his own brand and must

make FORWA brand thread seal tape occupy the market.

Back at the factory, Zeng Yanfei plunged into the crude workshop and conducted repeated research and experiments with the workers. After the ordeal of repeated failures and overcoming the thought of giving up again and again, FORWA brand thread seal tape finally achieved a qualitative leap.

Due to excellent quality, fashionable appearance, and continuous market development, FORWA brand thread seal tape became very popular in the Guangzhou market, and a whirlwind of FORWA thread seal tape swept the entire market.

FORWA brand thread seal tape not only firmly occupied the domestic market, but was also rated as a Famous Trademark of Guangdong Province, winning a good reputation and image for the enterprise.

Entering Overseas Markets

In early spring 2003, Sihui, Guangdong, was sunny with red flowers and green willows. The Guangdong PTFE Products Factory, which had moved to a new site, welcomed a booming Spring Festival. But before the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival had dissipated, amid the occasional sound of firecrackers outside the factory, the thread seal tape factory had already started production, and the workshop was full of busy workers.

At that time, Sihui FORWA brand thread seal tape was already a Famous Trademark of Guangdong Province. Facing many honors and praises, Factory Director Zeng Yanfei always kept a clear head. He believed that making thread seal tape costing only a few jiao per roll should follow the path of "small commodities, big market." In order to make the enterprise bigger and stronger, he set his sights on the broader overseas market.

At the 10th anniversary celebration of the factory in 2004, Director Zeng gave an impassioned speech, full of hope for the enterprise's prospects. Based on information collected from the Canton Fair and according to the requirements of some customers, he successfully independently developed colored thread seal tape, filling a gap in this area at home and abroad, and quickly brought it to market, winning the favor of many customers. At this time, he made a bold decision: export! Export directly to foreign buyers!

At that time, Director Zeng also had some friends in export companies who were familiar with export routines, but these were always small-scale operations, not in line with his style of grand development. Therefore, he decided to allocate 200,000 yuan as a special fund for import and export trade, preparing to enter the overseas market within two years.

The 2004 Autumn Canton Fair was as lively as ever. Guangdong PTFE Products Factory organized a strong lineup to exhibit, hoping to realize the dream of batch export. Director Zeng also lowered his status, willingly acted as a driver, and temporarily hired a female translator to invite interested customers to his car, and he personally drove customers back to the factory for visits and negotiations.

The jeep carried customers, spinning continuously between the Guangzhou exhibition hall and the factory. Director Zeng was so busy that he had no time for lunch, but his heart was full of hope. However, until the end of the Canton Fair, the enterprise still did not receive an overseas order.

Marketing Director Asen watched Director Zeng wearily get out of the car and, with a bitter smile, spread his hands to the boss: "No customer has placed an order!"

Director Zeng said calmly and quietly, "It doesn't matter. Continue. Persist for two years before drawing a conclusion."

"Success comes from persistence; giving up equals failure." Director Zeng often used this sentence to encourage himself and Asen. At the fourth exhibition, luck came, and Director Zeng and Asen finally obtained an order from a foreign buyer worth more than 300,000 US dollars. Thread seal tape costing a few jiao per roll could bring the enterprise an order of nearly 3 million yuan. In the small city of Sihui, Guangdong, this could be called a miracle. For a time, the whole factory's leaders and employees were immersed in tremendous excitement and joy.

The first step is always the hardest. With this successful export of thread seal tape, Director Zeng's confidence was greatly strengthened. In addition to continuing to participate in the Canton Fair held in Guangzhou every year, he also personally led Asen and others to take the initiative, going abroad to Southeast Asia, Iraq, Europe, America, and Russia to explore markets, promote the company's products, and negotiate business.

Heaven rewards the diligent. Through their unremitting efforts, the enterprise achieved fruitful results, with annual export volume rising continuously. By 2011, export volume broke through 5 million US dollars in one stroke!

Guangdong PTFE Products Factory not only became a major export earner for the region and industry, but also became a pacesetter in the thread seal tape industry. Director Zeng was therefore praised as the "King of Thread Seal Tape."