On February 22, 2001, PREF Group was officially founded, marking the beginning of its journey in sheet metal forming equipment manufacturing.

In August 2004, PREF Group successfully completed the assembly of its first independently developed CNC shearing machine.

In November 2005, PREF Group launched its first self-developed electro-hydraulic servo CNC press brake.

In 2009, PREF Group achieved several important milestones, including provincial recognition for the “Zhongyi” trademark, official approval of its technology R&D center as a Provincial Enterprise Technology Center, and Anhui Famous Brand Product recognition for its hydraulic press brake product.

In 2011, PREF Group reached an output value of RMB 180 million, sales revenue of RMB 150 million, profit of RMB 22 million, and a total export value of USD 9.4 million, maintaining a leading export position in its regional industrial base.

In 2012, a key leader of PREF Group was recognized as a provincial leading talent in technological innovation, and the company jointly established an industry-university-research cooperation base with the High-Tech Research Institute of Hefei University of Technology.

In 2013, PREF Group’s innovation and R&D project was included in a provincial science and technology program, its “Zhongyi” hydraulic shearing machine was recognized as an Anhui Famous Brand Product, and the company was approved to establish the Anhui Engineering Technology Research Center for CNC Shearing and Forming Equipment. In the same year, large-scale factory construction was launched, designed to support an annual capacity of 1,000 sets of high-quality sheet metal forming equipment.

In 2014, PREF Group cooperated with a Beijing-based aerospace research institute and participated in a National Major Special Project.

In 2015, PREF Group jointly undertook a National Science and Technology Support Project with Hefei University of Technology, and its products received the first District Chief Quality Award. In the same year, a customized 2000T/14000MM high-precision servo CNC press brake was successfully completed, while the company also developed a 6400T/20000MM ultra-large tandem electro-hydraulic servo CNC press brake, setting a new benchmark in ultra-large tonnage bending technology.

In March 2002, the first hydraulic swing beam shearing machine produced by PREF Group was officially delivered to a customer.

In 2016, PREF Group was awarded the title of “China Export Quality and Safety Demonstration Enterprise,” while annual tax contributions exceeded RMB 10 million for the first time. In the same year, its bending project was included in a major provincial science and technology program, and its ZYB series electro-hydraulic servo CNC press brake was recognized as an Anhui Famous Brand Product.

In 2017, the “PREF” brand of PREF Group received provincial brand recognition, and the company was approved to establish the Anhui Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Sheet Metal Forming Systems. In the same year, construction of its advanced sheet metal forming equipment project continued, with the No. 1 R&D building reaching 14,344.08 square meters.

In November 2018, PREF Group was approved to establish a Postdoctoral Research Workstation and continued to strengthen its innovation platform development and industry-university-research cooperation capabilities.

In 2019, PREF Group achieved record-high sales and successfully delivered several large electro-hydraulic servo CNC press brakes, including 2500T/12000MM, 1600T/10000MM, and 1000T/10000MM models. In the same year, its self-developed third-generation 10kW-class fiber laser cutting machine was successfully launched.

In 2020, PREF Group made multiple breakthroughs in brand development, technological innovation, and intellectual property, including receiving China Well-Known Trademark protection, having another research project included in a major provincial science and technology program, being recognized as a Provincial Technology Innovation Demonstration Enterprise, being named an Anhui “Specialized and Sophisticated” SME, and surpassing 60 patents in total.

In 2021, PREF Group was recognized as a National “Specialized, Sophisticated, Distinctive and Innovative Little Giant” Enterprise, received the Anhui Science and Technology Award, and surpassed 10 invention patents.