Guarding Grain with Data: Interview with Zhang Feng, Technical Director at Langfang Zhaosui

Interviewer / Langfang Zhaosui Corporate Communications

As China advances its "Smart Granary" initiative, temperature monitoring systems for grain storage are becoming critical. These systems provide a first line of defense against hidden risks such as mold, pests, and even spontaneous combustion in large grain depots. At the center of this transformation is Langfang Zhaosui, a company deeply rooted in grain condition sensing and control. In this internal interview, we speak with Zhang Feng, the company's Technical Director, to uncover how a small sensor can help secure a nation's food supply.

Interviewer: Zhang, many people think of temperature monitoring as something very basic. In grain storage, is it really that critical?

Zhang Feng: Actually, it's quite the opposite. Temperature seems simple, but it's complex to manage-and extremely important. In this industry, we often say, "Nine out of ten storage problems are temperature problems." Most issues like spoilage, pest outbreaks, or quality degradation start with abnormal heating deep inside the grain pile.

Traditionally, people relied on manual checks-climbing up into grain piles, using handheld thermometers. It's slow, risky, and only gives you surface-level information. But today, with automation and large-scale storage, we need precise, real-time data. Temperature is the first and most fundamental indicator in grain management. What we do at Zhaosui is make that data accurate, stable, visible, and actionable-each one of those is a technical challenge in itself.

Interviewer: It sounds like it's just sensors and wires. What makes the system so technically complex?

Zhang Feng: That's a common impression, and I get it-it looks simple on the outside. But in reality, every step is full of details.

Take the sensor, for instance. We use high-precision thermistors, accurate to within ±0.3°C. But remember, these sensors need to be buried in tons of grain for months or even years, in environments that are humid and dusty. So, it's not just about precision-we need long-term reliability. Every unit we produce goes through multiple rounds of aging and stress testing before deployment.

Then there's data collection. Grain depots often have high storage bins and wide layouts, so wiring needs to be efficient and highly resistant to interference. We use robust wired systems, and we've optimized both the signal and the physical layout to minimize installation complexity while ensuring consistent performance.

On the software side, our backend platform does more than just display numbers. It shows real-time visualizations, raises alarms when temperatures go above thresholds, and generates historical reports. It can even link to ventilation systems to automatically cool down the grain when needed. What looks like a "simple interface" is really the result of thousands of hours of engineering to make grain condition truly understandable.

Interviewer: What are your clients most concerned about when it comes to temperature monitoring systems?

Zhang Feng: Their top concerns are very practical: "Is it accurate?" and "What if it breaks?"

We've addressed both. On accuracy, we have tight quality control-every sensor is tested before leaving our factory. On reliability, we've built in redundancy and modularity. If one sensor fails, the rest of the system remains fully operational. We also made sure the data collectors have local storage and memory, so even if there's a power cut or network issue, data isn't lost.

And then there's usability. One client told us, "We're not scientists. We need something we can understand at a glance." That really shaped how we designed our interface-it's like a weather app. Red means hot, green means good. Any anomaly triggers a WeChat alert to the manager's phone. We're also developing a mobile-friendly version, so grain depot staff can check conditions directly from a smartphone.

Interviewer: Have you seen your system make a big impact at any specific site?

Zhang Feng: Yes, one that stands out was in Weifang, Shandong. A state-owned grain depot there was using our system to monitor a batch of wheat. Normally, the grain temperature was stable at about 28°C. But suddenly, one of our sensors showed a consistent rise in one localized spot.

They weren't sure if it was a system error, but when they went to inspect the area, they found early signs of insect infestation. That spot had started fermenting due to microbial activity. Thanks to the early warning, they immediately initiated grain turning and ventilation, and prevented a much larger loss.

Later the site manager told us:

"Before, by the time we noticed something was wrong, the damage had already started. Now, we caught it 10 days early. That's real protection."

That really stuck with me. As engineers, we're in the office writing code and calibrating sensors, but on the ground, our system is helping protect real food resources.

Interviewer: Where do you see this industry-and Zhaosui-heading next?

Zhang Feng: We see temperature monitoring as just the starting point. The real future lies in platforms and intelligence.

First, we're working on system integration. Traditionally, grain condition systems were fragmented-temperature, humidity, pests, and gas levels were all separate. We're building platforms that bring them together, giving managers a full picture of grain health.

Second, we're investing in AI-based analytics. Over time, our platform collects temperature trends, seasonal data, and grain type responses. With enough data, we can model what kind of grain in what conditions is likely to go bad-and act before it happens. The system will not just monitor, but advise.

Finally, we want our solutions to scale to smaller facilities. Large state-owned depots have budgets, but small cooperatives and local granaries need affordable, easy-to-use solutions too. We're building lightweight systems with app-based controls, solar power options, and simple installation that can be deployed in rural areas without sacrificing functionality.

At the end of our conversation, Zhang summarized his work with quiet conviction:

• "We build sensors and systems. But at the other end of that wire is something much bigger-it's the grain farmers grow, the food the country relies on. What we protect is not just temperature-it's security."

From the hidden heat inside a grain pile to the rising demand for intelligent, scalable storage solutions, Langfang Zhaosui is helping define the future of food safety-one data point at a time.