From Technical Manager to President: Ben Zhang Celebrates his 25th Year at Beijing MMD

¿Por qué decidió unirse a la empresa?

I joined Beijing MMD (BMMD) somewhat by chance. After graduating with a master’s degree from China University of Mining and Technology in 1993, I joined the General Research Institute of Coal Science as a Mechanical Design Engineer. I was promoted to Department Head three years later and became Director of the Research Centre two years after that. My primary clients were in the coal industry.

After nine years at the design institute, I had gained considerable experience and was beginning to consider a change of work environment. Around that time, in March 2002, BMMD won a bid for three Semi-Mobile Sizing Stations in China and was urgently looking for staff. A classmate of mine, Professor Meng, who had previously worked at BMMD and knew me well, believed that my background in mining machinery design and my industry experience matched BMMD’s needs, so he recommended me. The timing was right, and I joined BMMD.

Looking back nearly 25 years later, I can say that both the company’s growth and my own professional development have met or even exceeded the expectations I had when I made that decision.

¿De qué logros se siente más orgulloso desde que se unió a la empresa?

One of the projects I am most proud of began shortly after I joined BMMD. In July 2002, I visited a cement plant where the existing crusher was unable to handle the oversized feed material, bringing production to a standstill. Drawing on my previous experience at a design institute, we identified a way to install an MMD 500 Sizer within the very limited space between the plate feeder and belt conveyor. The modification was successfully commissioned and accepted within seven months and received high praise from the customer.

The success of this project helped establish a long-term relationship with the customer, who later selected BMMD to supply the crushing equipment for a second production line.

Another significant milestone came in 2004, when we won our first Semi-Mobile Sizing Station project for an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia. I was appointed Project Manager, marking an important step in my professional development. What began as a single project grew into a long-term partnership, with the customer ultimately purchasing 12 Semi-Mobile Sizing Stations from MMD.

I have been fortunate to be involved in several major milestones throughout my career, including helping develop a customer relationship that grew to 17 Semi-Mobile Sizing Stations and, more recently, securing an order for three Semi-Mobile Sizing Stations from WCS Simandou in 2023.

Looking back, I am particularly proud of how these experiences have allowed me to develop from an engineering and design role into project management and customer relationship development, while contributing to some of BMMD's most significant projects.

Certainly, all of this has been achieved thanks to our strong project team, which includes sales, technical, electrical control, and after-sales service departments, among others.

¿Cómo ha evolucionado su papel a lo largo de los años?

When I joined BMMD, my previous experience at a design institute led me into the role of Technical Manager, where I primarily provided technical support to the sales team. Over time, my responsibilities expanded and I became Technical Director, while also taking on sales responsibilities. As my experience and performance developed, so did my role within the company.

In 2008, following strong performance in the HLH market, I was promoted to Vice President of Technology. A further milestone came in 2016, when we successfully completed the acceptance of a Fully Mobile Sizing Station project that had presented significant challenges.

In November 2016, I was appointed President of BMMD. This marked a significant shift in my responsibilities, from primarily technical and sales-focused work to leading the wider business. Recognising the opportunities beyond an increasingly mature domestic market, I focused on developing new markets in Xinjiang and overseas.

From 2016 to 2025, we secured 22 Semi-Mobile orders from customers in Xinjiang, as well as 10 Semi-Mobile orders across Jordan, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea, together with an Atlas Transporter order in Jordan.

Looking back, my role has evolved significantly, from providing technical expertise and supporting sales, to leading projects, developing new markets and ultimately taking responsibility for the overall direction and growth of BMMD.

¿Qué ha aprendido sobre sí misma durante este viaje?

The Fully Mobile Sizing Station was one of the most memorable projects of my career and taught me some of the most valuable lessons about myself. As Project Manager, I experienced first-hand the importance of staying calm, persistent and focused when faced with unexpected challenges.

The project required close collaboration between BMMD, PS Mechanical and Electrical Management Department and the end user. By combining technical analysis, on-site measurements and open communication, we were able to build a shared understanding of the operating conditions and successfully complete the acceptance testing.

The experience strengthened my confidence as a leader and reinforced the importance of teamwork, trust and perseverance. It taught me that successful projects are not just about finding the right technical solution, but also about bringing people together, listening to different perspectives and working collectively towards a common goal.

¿Cuáles son sus objetivos y aspiraciones para el futuro en la empresa?

With the development of China’s economy, the country has a high demand for iron, copper, aluminium, and other metals. However, the grades of domestic iron ore, copper ore, and bauxite are generally low. As a result, many Chinese companies are exploring for minerals worldwide and constructing crushing systems, which has created numerous opportunities. Due to language barriers, most Chinese companies prefer to partner with BMMD. BMMD is eager to work closely with other MMD companies in the project locations to seize this historic opportunity and contribute to the development of MMD Group!