Shandong manufacturers contributing to country's industrial innovation, reform

In a robot-making factory located in East China's Shandong province, fully automated intelligent robots move through aisles in an orderly way, carrying out tasks such as monitoring production process and even collaborating to assemble new robots from bolts and parts.

The manufacturing industry in the province is utilizing its advantage in innovation in recent years, empowering the country's continuous industrial reform.

Shandong has complete industrial categories and systems, with its 11 industrial chains covering information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced material, high-end chemical industry, construction machinery, shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment industry, new energy, light industry, pharmaceutical industry, textile and garment industry, and agricultural machinery industry.

Shandong strives to create an innovative development environment for large, small and medium-sized enterprises.

"Don't underestimate this thin membrane. Though it looks just like our household plastic wrap, it is as invaluable as gold," said Wang Zhenhua, deputy general manager of Shandong Dongyue Future Hydrogen Energy Materials Co Ltd.

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) works as a core component for hydrogen power generation, Wang added.

Traditional sectors such as textile and machinery have also injected new technology in their producing process.

The equipment automation rate of a factory of engine manufacturer Weichai is as high as 99 percent. Over the past decade, the factory's investment in R&D has surpassed 30 billion yuan ($4.13 billion), according to the company.

With the development of sci-tech innovation and continuous breakthroughs of artificial intelligence technology, industrial robots are also gradually being used in wider cases.

"We will continue to invest in innovation in robots, in making them more adaptable for wider application, and by integrating artificial intelligence technology, our products will be more intelligent in the future to further bolster industrial upgrades," said Hong Shuai, executive vice-president of Aubo (Beijing) Robotics Technology Co Ltd, a manufacturer of industrial cooperative robots.

Electronic equipment company Sunwoda Electronic based in Zaozhuang city is bustling with delivering orders for its clients from home and abroad. It has partnered with companies such as German automaker Volkswagen AG, Swedish automaker Volvo, Chinese automaker SAIC Motor, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Chinese new energy vehicle startup Li Auto, and Chinese electric carmaker Nio.

"The order book is fully booked for this year, and we need to produce at full capacity to deliver battery package at around 110,000 units," said Li Wenming, chief project engineer of the company.

The company's power battery project is estimated to reach a 50 GWh production capacity yearly, with output value totaling 30 billion yuan.

The rise of the manufacturing industry in Shandong is inseparable from government's policy support.

According to Song Pengfei, senior researcher at Shandong Institute of Industry and Information Technology, the province has held a series of promotional activities on new technology and products last year and has reached a cooperation intention valued at 557 million yuan.

Shandong has also successfully listed 15 specialized new enterprises in 2023, accounting for 88.2 percent of the newly listed enterprises in the province, Song added.

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