Profoto Project Journey
From launching a new service center to building a standardized after-sales operation, this journey reflects how AXION HUB continuously improved quality, operations and engineering capabilities while supporting the Profoto brand in China.
Overview
The Profoto China After-sales Service Center has evolved through continuous operational improvements since the project began in 2019.
From establishing service workflows and engineering standards to developing quality management systems and the AXION HUB Operations Standard (AHOS), each stage has contributed to building a more reliable and scalable after-sales operation.
This timeline highlights the key milestones that shaped the project and the operational philosophy behind its long-term development.
Journey Timeline
2019
Project Initiation
The Profoto China After-sales Service Center project officially began.
AXION HUB was selected as the operational partner, responsible for designing and establishing the service operation framework.
2020
Service Center Launch
The service center officially began operations for the Chinese market.
An integrated after-sales operation covering customer reception, repair, quality control and logistics management was established.
2020–2022
Building Global Standards
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), quality control processes and engineer training programs were developed to establish an after-sales operation that met international quality standards.
Continuous Training
Continuous Technical Education
To maintain Profoto’s quality standards, AXION HUB introduced a continuous technical training and evaluation program.
Rather than relying on one-time training, engineers continuously improve through an ongoing cycle of learning, assessment and operational improvement.
2022
Business Continuity
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the Shanghai lockdown, the service center maintained stable operations and continued supporting customers without interruption.
2023
Lifecycle Support
Repair history management and preventive maintenance services were introduced to support the entire product lifecycle and improve long-term service quality.
2024–2025
Operational Excellence
Continuous improvements were made through system upgrades, KPI management and Repeat Repair analysis, further strengthening operational quality and reliability.
2026
AHOS Development
Based on the operational experience gained from the Profoto project, AXION HUB began developing the AXION HUB Operations Standard (AHOS) as its unified operational framework.
Future
Expanding Global Operations
Building on experience gained in both Japan and China, AXION HUB continues to develop sustainable and scalable after-sales operations for international brands.
Operating Company
This project has been operated in Shanghai, China under the AXION HUB brand for many years.
The operating company is Shanghai Jinwei Culture Communication Co., Ltd., a wholly owned company established by the founder of AXION HUB.
The company is responsible for every aspect of the Profoto China After-sales Service Center, including customer reception, repair operations, quality management, logistics coordination, engineer training and operational systems.
Current Service Center
Since official operations began in 2020, the service center has been located at:
Room 316, Building A, Jiazhi Innovation Plaza
385 Xinpei Road
Jiading Industrial Zone
Shanghai, China
From this location, after-sales support has been provided to customers throughout mainland China.
New Operations Center
To further strengthen operational capabilities and support future business expansion, the company plans to relocate its headquarters on 1 August 2026 to:
Room B01
No. 230, Lane 689 Yunling West Road
Putuo District
Shanghai, China
The new facility will be designed according to the AXION HUB Operations Standard (AHOS), incorporating dedicated areas for:
- Repair Operations
- Quality Management
- Logistics Management
- ESD Control
- Engineer Training
- Operational Systems
This new environment will provide a stronger foundation for future operational growth.
Beyond the Profoto Project
This relocation is more than simply moving the Profoto Service Center.
It represents the establishment of a new operational headquarters for Shanghai Jinwei Culture Communication Co., Ltd., where the AXION HUB operational philosophy will be fully implemented.
The new facility will continue supporting the Profoto China After-sales Service Center while also serving as the operational foundation for future after-sales service projects developed under the AXION HUB brand.
Service Center Locations
Current Location
Room 316, Building A, Jiazhi Innovation Plaza
385 Xinpei Road
Jiading Industrial Zone
Shanghai, China
New Location (Effective from 1 August 2026)
Room B01
No. 230, Lane 689 Yunling West Road
Putuo District
Shanghai, China
Building an After-sales Operation from the Ground Up
The Profoto China After-sales Service Center was not created simply to provide repair services.
From the beginning, the project required the design of a complete after-sales operation covering customer reception, technical repair, quality control, logistics, engineer training and long-term operational improvement.
AXION HUB worked with Profoto to build this structure step by step. What began as the launch of a new service center gradually developed into a mature operation capable of supporting customers across mainland China while maintaining the quality expectations of an international professional imaging brand.
The following sections introduce the major stages of this development and the operational thinking behind the project.
Project Overview
The Profoto China After-sales Service Center project began in 2019, when AXION HUB was selected as the operational partner responsible for establishing the service operation in China.
The objective was not limited to opening a repair location. A complete operational framework had to be designed for the Chinese market, including customer reception, product registration, repair workflows, parts management, quality inspection, logistics coordination and communication with Profoto.
Full-scale operations began in 2020. Since then, the service center has continued to support Profoto customers throughout mainland China while progressively improving its technical and operational capabilities.
The project demonstrates how an after-sales service operation can be built from the ground up and developed through continuous collaboration between a global brand and a local operating team.
Continue Reading
Learn about the technical, operational and management challenges that had to be solved before the service center could operate reliably.
Challenges at the Beginning of the Project
At the beginning of the project, there was no complete service operation that could simply be transferred into the Chinese market.
The new center needed to meet Profoto’s global quality expectations while also responding to local customer needs, logistics conditions and operational realities. Repair procedures, inspection standards, documentation methods, communication rules and engineer training all had to be developed into a practical system.
Technical repair capability was only one part of the challenge. The operation also needed to create reliable records, prevent products from being lost or confused, manage parts accurately and ensure that customers received consistent information throughout the service process.
This meant that AXION HUB had to design not only a repair workflow, but an entire operating model capable of delivering stable and repeatable service quality.
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Learn about the technical, operational and management challenges that had to be solved before the service center could operate reliably.
→ Read About the Challenges at the Beginning
Building the Operational Structure
Reliable after-sales service depends on more than the experience of individual engineers.
To create a stable operation, AXION HUB established an integrated structure connecting customer reception, repair, quality management, logistics, parts control and communication with Profoto. Responsibilities were defined for each stage, and information was passed through the operation in a controlled and traceable way.
Standard Operating Procedures were developed to clarify how products should be received, diagnosed, repaired, inspected and returned. Product records and repair histories were maintained so that the status of each case could be reviewed throughout the process.
This structure allowed the service center to operate as one coordinated system rather than as a collection of separate tasks. It also created the foundation for future training, performance management and continuous improvement.
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Discover how AXION HUB designed the operational structure behind the Profoto China After-sales Service Center.
→ Explore the Operational Structure
Taking on Technical Challenges
Professional lighting equipment presents technical challenges that cannot always be solved through standard repair procedures alone.
During the Profoto project, AXION HUB encountered cases involving discontinued parts, repeated failures and technical issues requiring investigation beyond ordinary component replacement. In these situations, engineers needed to understand not only how to repair the product, but also why the failure occurred and how the solution could be made reliable.
One example involved a damaged housing component for a Profoto TTL remote. Because a conventional replacement solution was not readily available, the team developed and verified an alternative part. The solution was evaluated through practical repair work and follow-up monitoring, with no repeat repairs recorded for the corrected issue.
These cases helped establish an important principle within the operation: technical problems should be investigated systematically, and successful solutions should be documented so that they can be reproduced and improved.
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Read how AXION HUB investigated technical problems, developed practical solutions and converted repair experience into repeatable technical knowledge.
→ Explore Our Technical Challenges
Continuous Technical Education
Initial training is essential when launching a service center, but one-time training is not enough to maintain quality over many years.
Products change, repair cases become more complex and the experience level of engineers develops over time. To maintain Profoto’s quality standards, AXION HUB introduced an ongoing system of technical education, practical evaluation and operational review.
Engineers receive training in product structure, diagnosis, repair procedures, testing methods and quality requirements. Actual repair cases are also used as learning material, especially when a new type of failure or an unusual technical issue is identified.
Training results are evaluated through repair quality, process compliance and Repeat Repair analysis. When a weakness is discovered, the response may include additional training, revised documentation or an improvement to the repair procedure itself.
This creates a continuous cycle of education, evaluation and improvement rather than relying on individual memory or experience alone.
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Learn how continuous training and evaluation help engineers maintain consistent technical and operational standards.
→ Read About Continuous Technical Education
Project Results
The Profoto project successfully established a stable after-sales service operation for the Chinese market.
Customers gained access to a dedicated service center capable of handling reception, diagnosis, repair, quality inspection and return logistics within one coordinated operation. Profoto gained a local partner able to manage daily service activities while maintaining operational visibility and consistent quality standards.
Over time, the project developed beyond its original repair function. Repair records, quality data and Repeat Repair cases became sources of information for identifying technical problems and improving service procedures.
The operation also demonstrated that a reliable service center should not depend entirely on the skills or memory of individual employees. By combining technical capability with documented workflows, quality controls, training and operational systems, the service center was able to maintain continuity and improve over time.
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Explore the operational, technical and customer-service results achieved through the Profoto project.
→ Read About the Project Results
Continuous Improvement
The service center was not treated as a completed system after its launch.
AXION HUB continued to improve the operation through updated procedures, better product records, KPI management, system development and regular review of repair performance. These improvements were based on actual operational data and real cases from the service center.
Repeat Repair became one of the key management indicators. When a product with the same serial number returned for another repair, the case could be identified and reviewed. Managers examined whether the repeated failure was caused by the product, the repair procedure, testing standards or another operational issue.
Where a problem was connected to the Standard Operating Procedure, corrective action could include revising the procedure, providing additional training or changing the inspection process.
This approach transformed repair records from simple historical information into a practical tool for quality management and operational improvement.
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Discover how repair data, KPI management and Repeat Repair analysis are used to improve the operation continuously.
→ Explore the Continuous Improvement Process
From a Single Project to AHOS
The experience gained through the Profoto project gradually revealed a broader operational model.
Many of the principles developed for this service center—clear product records, defined workflows, quality checkpoints, engineer training, logistics control and continuous improvement—could also be applied to other after-sales operations.
AXION HUB therefore began organizing these principles into the AXION HUB Operations Standard (AHOS).
AHOS is not simply a collection of repair instructions. It is an operational framework designed to connect people, processes, facilities, equipment, information and management standards within one service environment.
The Profoto project remains one of the most important practical foundations behind this development. It shows how operational knowledge gained through real service work can be documented, standardized and adapted for future projects involving different products, brands and markets.
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Learn how experience from the Profoto project contributed to the development of the AXION HUB Operations Standard.
→ Discover the Development of AHOS