Development process

1992

The establishment of CRON Company traces back to the predecessor, Hangzhou Kelong Electronic Technology Research Institute.

1993

The introduction of CRON's “Caiyinlong” a domestically produced color offset printer incorporating modern electromechanical technology, marked the beginning of a new era in Chinese printing technology, transitioning from monochrome to color. This breakthrough disrupted the monopoly of foreign counterparts in the Chinese market.

1996

The launch of CRON's first domestically developed laser imagesetter broke the limitation of domestic machines to produce only black and white images, driving high-quality development in domestic color printing and the adoption of laser imagesetting consumables.

1998

CRON's color business card offset printer won the National Press and Publication Administration's Science and Technology Progress Award.

2001

CRON launched the “Caililong” series, showcasing China's advanced prepress technology with fully automatic, high-precision inline laser imagesetters. These machines fill the gap in China's laser plate-making sector, automating operations to minimize errors and boost efficiency.

2005

The CRON Company has been recognized as a technology-oriented enterprise in Zhejiang Province.

2007

CRON launched a high-precision, fully automatic thermal CTP direct plate-making machine with proprietary technology, filling a void in China's advanced prepress sector and reinforcing CRON's leading position in the industry.

2008

CRON's development of the traditional PS plate direct plate-making machine UV-CTP has positioned it as a premier global supplier of high-quality external-drum UV-CTP equipment, propelling the Chinese printing industry into a new phase of growth. CRON's “Caililong” fully automatic laser imagesetter won the 'Excellent New Product New Technology Award' in Hangzhou City. In May, CRON participated in the prestigious event of the global printing industry, Drupa International Printing Exhibition, showcasing its “Leiba” thermal CTP. It attracted wide attention from international users, marking the opening of the Chinese CTP's pathway to the international market.

2009

CRON was invited to be the first drafting unit of the national standard for 'Thermal Digital Direct Plate-making Machine for Printing Machinery'. CRON was recognized by the Hangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau as the 'Most Promising Enterprise' and the 'Most Valuable Investment Enterprise'. Mr. Xiang Jianlong was awarded the title of 'National Printing Industry Top 100 Science and Technology Innovation Model' by the China Printing Technology Association.

2010

CRON Company has been awarded the title of 'Zhejiang Provincial High-Tech Enterprise'. CRON successfully passed the ISO9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification and ISO14001:2004 Environmental Management System Certification. CRON has obtained the title of 'National Key Supported High-tech Enterprise'.

2011

CRON launched China's Magnetic Linear Scanning System and Very Large Format CTP (VLF), leading global printing plate-making technology. The 'Longyu' UV-CTP has been recognized as a 'Provincial-level Industrial New Product'. CRON has obtained Zhejiang Province's Scientific and Technological Achievement Certification and has been listed as the first set of key products in the equipment manufacturing industry of Zhejiang Province in 2011. CRON's CTP computer-to-plate machine has been RoHS certified. CRON Machinery and Electronics was awarded the title of 'Meritorious Enterprise in Equipping China' by the China Machinery Industry Federation.

2012

The project for the 'High-Speed High-Precision 16-Up UV Direct Plate-making Machine' has been selected as a National Science and Technology Enterprise Innovation Fund project. CRON has been rated as an AAA credit enterprise. CRON was awarded the title of 'National Torch Key High-Tech Enterprise'."

2013

CRON launched international standardization management services for printing colors; Mr. Xiang Jianlong was honored with the '12th Bi Sheng Outstanding Newcomer Award'; CRON established a German subsidiary to offer more timely and convenient localized services for European clients.

2014

CRON participated as a drafter in the formulation of the mechanical industry standard 'Classification of Printing Machinery-Prepress Equipment'; CRON partners with ECRM, a renowned CTP manufacturer, to establish a joint venture in the US, as one of CRON's global prepress R&D centres. CRON Malaysia was established, dedicated to providing CTP technical services in Southeast Asia and standardizing color management services for international markets.

2015

CRON's subsidiary, Jimu Digital Plate, starts production at its new factory in Anji, Huzhou, equipped with advanced high-speed automatic plate production lines. With an annual capacity exceeding 20 million square meters, its 'Blackwood' brand CTP digital plates meet growing market demands both domestically and internationally.

2016

CRON was awarded as a national training base for Computer-to-Plate (CTP) maintenance operators; Received recognition as a special contributor to the implementation of green printing during the 'Twelfth Five-Year Plan' period.

2017

Awarded as one of the first batch of Manufacturing Single Champion Cultivation Enterprises by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Mr. Xiang Jianlong was recognized as one of the top ten influential figures in the Chinese printing equipment industry during the 'Twelfth Five-Year Plan'.

2018

CRON's EZC standardized and intelligent installation has been included in the national intelligent printing demonstration and pilot project; CRON was elected as the vice chairman unit of the National Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Alliance, participating in the drafting of national standards for printing intelligence.

2019

CRON participated as a construction unit in the 'Smart Manufacturing Test Line for Book Printing' at the China Printing Industry Innovation Conference; Awarded as the training base for high-skilled talents in the Chinese printing industry; CRON was honored as a 'Pioneer of the Printing Industry in the Era of the 70th Anniversary of New China'; Mr. Xiang Jianlong was honored as a 'Pioneer of the Printing Industry in the Era of the 70th Anniversary of New China'.

2022

CRON was honored with the '2022 Zhejiang Province Specialized and Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Certification'; CRON's EZC intelligent digital inking system and Caililong HDI high-definition digital flexo imagesetter were awarded the title of 'Highly Praised Equipment by Chinese Printing Users'.

2023

The industry's first batch of prepress vocational skill books, 'Offset Plate-making' and 'Flexographic Plate-making', co-authored by CRON, are officially available online. CRON was honoured with the national-level 'Little Giant' enterprise certification for specialization and innovation.