Intelligent manufacturing equipment is one of the key directions in the high-end equipment manufacturing industry. With the in-depth implementation of the intelligent manufacturing project, a development pattern of regional coordination and industry linkage has basically taken shape. The scale of China's intelligent manufacturing equipment industry has exceeded 3.2 trillion yuan, and the domestic market satisfaction rate has exceeded 50%. The "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Intelligent Manufacturing" has made systematic arrangements for vigorously developing intelligent manufacturing equipment. This issue has specially invited several experts to discuss related problems.

The initial trend of industrial agglomeration and development has taken shape

What is the current development status of China's intelligent manufacturing equipment industry?

Qu Guochun (Director of the Equipment Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Secretary-General of the National Expert Committee on Intelligent Manufacturing) : Intelligent manufacturing equipment is the necessary material condition for the intelligent realization of the manufacturing process and also the core carrier of intelligent manufacturing. It is a manifestation of the highly integrated and innovative fusion of manufacturing processes, new-generation information technology and intelligent technology in equipment products. Intelligent manufacturing equipment covers a wide range of fields and is applied in all industries and links of the manufacturing industry. It has the characteristics of being a tool, enabling, fundamental and strategic. Its development level has become an important indicator to measure a country's manufacturing innovation capacity and comprehensive strength.

Based on product features and application scenarios, intelligent manufacturing equipment can be classified into two major categories: general intelligent manufacturing equipment and specialized intelligent manufacturing equipment. General intelligent manufacturing equipment includes CNC machine tools, industrial robots, additive manufacturing equipment, intelligent inspection equipment, industrial control equipment, intelligent logistics equipment, etc. Specialized intelligent manufacturing equipment refers to the dedicated manufacturing equipment for specific industries such as automobiles, metallurgy, chemical engineering, building materials, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, which has obvious industry-specific attributes. Compared with traditional manufacturing equipment, intelligent manufacturing equipment, through the integration and innovation of intelligent sensing, advanced control, artificial intelligence, digital twin and other technologies, possesses certain intelligent functions such as information perception, analysis and planning, error correction and tolerance, network integration, diagnosis and repair, which can greatly improve the processing quality and usage efficiency of the equipment and reduce application costs. Meanwhile, intelligent manufacturing equipment is not merely a piece of equipment, but a manufacturing system. Based on intelligent manufacturing equipment, corresponding automated and intelligent production lines can be built according to production needs, and digital workshops and intelligent factories can be further constructed.

As a landmark product of the deep integration and innovation of industrialization and informatization, vigorously developing intelligent manufacturing equipment is of great significance for enhancing production efficiency, technological level and product quality, and promoting the intelligent and green development of the manufacturing industry. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of national strategies and policies, China has continuously made up for shortcomings, sought innovation and promoted transformation, guiding the coordinated efforts of "research and development - engineering - industrialization", and has made remarkable progress in the development of the intelligent manufacturing equipment industry.

The industrial scale has grown rapidly. With the continuous and in-depth advancement of intelligent manufacturing, the digitalization, networking and intelligence of China's manufacturing industry have been developing rapidly. A number of digital workshops and intelligent factories have been built, and new models such as network collaborative manufacturing and large-scale personalized customization have been cultivated and formed. This has driven the growth and expansion of intelligent manufacturing equipment industries such as industrial robots, additive manufacturing equipment and CNC machine tools. The current industrial scale has reached 3.2 trillion yuan.

A batch of landmark products have achieved breakthroughs. In recent years, China has achieved certain breakthroughs in areas such as industrial mother machines and core components through the implementation of the industrial foundation reconstruction project, and has formed a number of landmark products that have reached the international synchronous level. The market satisfaction rate of domestic intelligent equipment has been effectively enhanced. The automotive stamping equipment independently developed by Jinan No.2 Machine Tool has a stamping speed of up to 18 times per minute, which is at the international leading level and has a domestic market share of 80%. Suzhou Green Harmonic Drive Technology Co., Ltd. has made a breakthrough in the field of precision drive technology. Its independently developed precision harmonic reducer has filled the market gap in China.

Cultivate and form a number of backbone enterprises with international competitiveness. Encourage enterprises to carry out cross-field and cross-regional cooperation, and cultivate a number of backbone enterprises with independent intellectual property rights and leading international technological levels in fields such as industrial robots and intelligent logistics equipment, thus forming a good brand reputation and influence in overseas markets. Efort has successively acquired CMA, an Italian spraying robot enterprise, EVOLUT, a general industrial robot system integrator, WFC, a provider of flexible welding and assembly lines for the automotive industry, and invested in Robox, a provider of robot motion control systems. It established Efort Europe in Italy, and its robot products have been successfully sold to countries and regions such as Italy, Germany, Brazil, and South Africa. The intelligent mobile robot (AMR) independently developed by Geek + has been widely applied by international leading enterprises such as Nike, Walmart, Toyota, Siemens and BMW. The global market share of AMR has ranked first in the world for four consecutive years.

A number of specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative "little giant" enterprises have emerged. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the fundamental force for enhancing the stability and competitiveness of industrial and supply chains, and an important driving force for promoting high-quality economic development. Among the 9,119 specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative "little giant" enterprises that have been announced in the four batches so far, nearly a thousand are involved in the fields of robots, machine tools, additive manufacturing equipment, industrial control equipment, sensing and detection equipment, and intelligent logistics equipment, covering various areas such as complete machine manufacturing, components, and system integration. This has effectively enhanced the independent supporting capacity and level of China's intelligent manufacturing equipment industry chain.

The construction of industrial clusters has achieved remarkable results. Through improving top-level design, intensifying application promotion, and strengthening platform construction, 23 national new industrialization industrial demonstration bases have been cultivated so far, including Jiangsu Haian Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shandong Tengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Hubei Jingshan Economic Development Zone, as well as 4 national advanced manufacturing clusters such as Shanghai Integrated Circuit Cluster and Guangdong Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Foshan-Dongguan Intelligent Equipment Cluster. It covers fields such as laser processing equipment, electronic manufacturing equipment, metal processing equipment, and integrated circuit manufacturing equipment, and has initially formed a cluster effect where the entire machine drives the agglomeration and development of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain.

China has a scale advantage in the installation volume of industrial robots

What advantages does China's industrial robot industry have in terms of industrial scale and technological level?

Hao Yucheng (President of Sinomac Intelligent Technology Research Institute) : Robots are hailed as "the pearl on the top of the manufacturing industry's crown". Their research and development, manufacturing, and application are important indicators to measure a country's level of scientific and technological innovation and high-end manufacturing. With the accelerated evolution of the new round of global technological revolution and industrial transformation, major developed countries around the world have successively incorporated the development of the robot industry into an important part of their national strategies. China also attaches great importance to the development of the robot industry, incorporating robots into the key areas of national scientific and technological innovation, and vigorously promoting the research and development, innovation and industrial application of robots.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in conjunction with relevant departments, has successively issued policy documents such as the "Robot Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)", the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Robot Industry", and the "Implementation Plan for the 'Robot +' Application Action", to cultivate and guide the healthy and orderly development of the robot industry. At present, China has become an important force supporting the development of the world's robot industry.

The overall scale has grown rapidly. In recent years, driven by the wave of intelligent manufacturing, the demand for robots in China has been strong and the industrial scale has grown rapidly. In 2022, the total revenue of China's robot industry exceeded 170 billion yuan. The production of industrial robots reached 443,000 sets, with the installed capacity accounting for over 50% of the global total. China has ranked first in the world for nine consecutive years.

The technical level has been steadily improving. Breakthroughs have been made in key components such as reducers, controllers and servo systems. In terms of reducers, China has overcome key technological processes such as structural design, processing and assembly, and gradually achieved mass production. Some robot complete machines have achieved breakthroughs, with their functions and reliability gradually improving. Many collaborative robot products have realized the integration of reducers, motors, encoders and drive control. The repeatability accuracy of some products can reach ± 0.03 millimeters.

The depth and breadth of application have been significantly expanded. China has been the world's largest consumer of industrial robots for nine consecutive years, with 322 industrial robots available for operation per 10,000 employees. Meanwhile, robot enterprises have been deeply engaged in niche industries. Through in-depth cooperation with users, they have developed several solutions tailored to specific industry processes, effectively meeting the needs of users. At present, the application fields of domestic robots have covered 60 major industry categories and 168 medium industry categories, including automobiles, electronics, metallurgy, light industry, petrochemicals, and medicine.

The market order is becoming increasingly standardized. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in conjunction with relevant departments, is promoting the standardization, testing, certification, and supervision of robots. In terms of standards, a national technical Committee for robot standardization was established to accelerate the improvement of the robot technology standard system and promote the development of urgently needed national standards for robot complete machines, safety requirements and testing methods. In terms of the construction of the testing and certification system, six national robot testing and evaluation centers have been established in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Chongqing, Beijing and other places, with testing capabilities covering key links in the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain such as complete machines, key components and control software.

The development effect of industrial clusters has begun to emerge. In terms of regional distribution, China's robot industry has initially formed an industrial spatial development pattern with the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta and the Bohai Rim as the core, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Northeast region as supplements. Among them, the Yangtze River Delta region has gathered a number of internationally leading enterprises, and its output of industrial robots ranks among the top in the country. Relying on a solid industrial foundation in equipment manufacturing, home appliance manufacturing, 3C manufacturing, etc., the Pearl River Delta region leads the way in the industrial application of robots. The Bohai Rim region, with Beijing at its core, has gathered high-quality scientific research resources and enjoys strong advantages in the research of cutting-edge robot technologies and the development of original technologies. The Northeast region, relying on universities and research institutions such as Harbin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has incubated leading enterprises like Harbin Institute of Technology Intelligence and Siasun Robot & Automation, playing a significant role in promoting the industrialization of industrial robots.

Through continuous innovation and in-depth application, China's robot industry is showing a good development momentum. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and new materials are deeply integrated with robot technology, and new products, new forms and new applications are emerging one after another. The robot industry is at a crucial juncture of upgrading and leapfrog development. We must seize the opportunity, accelerate the resolution of problems such as insufficient technological accumulation, weak industrial foundation, weak innovation capacity, and lack of high-end supply, and promote the robot industry to move towards the medium and high end.

First of all, we must continuously strengthen the research and development of core technologies. Increase support for the research and development of core component technologies such as high-precision reducers, servo motors, and high-performance controllers, and quickly make up for the shortcomings in the industrial chain. At the same time, organize advantageous resources from industry, academia, research and application, jointly carry out research and development breakthroughs and engineering applications, and enhance the independent control capacity of the industrial chain and supply chain. Deepen the collaboration between production and application, and promote research and development through application to support the continuous iteration and optimization of products.

Secondly, support the professional and characteristic development of robot enterprises. Encourage enterprises to enhance their process accumulation in general industrial sub-sectors such as sanitary ware, ceramics, furniture, sheet metal, and brewing, and develop industry-specific process packages and solutions. By expanding diversified application markets, avoiding homogenized competition, encouraging enterprises to focus on professional fields to cultivate differentiated competitive advantages, and fostering a batch of specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative "little giants" in robotics.

Secondly, build a number of industrial advantage clusters. Guide resources and innovative elements to gather in regions with solid industrial foundations and great development potential, build a number of advanced manufacturing clusters of robots with distinctive leading products, highly concentrated innovative elements and complete industrial ecosystems, and connect the industrial chain, supply chain and innovation chain.

High-end machine tools are embracing new development opportunities

What development process has China's CNC machine tools gone through?

Mu Donghui (Deputy Secretary-General of the China Machine Tool Builders' Association) : Machine tools are known as the "mother machines" of industry and are the "tools for making tools". They are a fundamental industry related to national strategic security and the overall development of the country. CNC machine tools are the hubs that integrate manufacturing technology and intelligent technology. On the basis of condensing traditional technologies such as mechanics, hydraulics, and electricity, they integrate the principles of modern industrial control, sensing, communication, and other new technologies, becoming the culmination of manufacturing process technology. They can adopt various material forming methods such as subtractive, isometric, and additive manufacturing Provide processing equipment and technical solutions for various fields of manufacturing.

Machine tool products emerged along with the development of modern industry. Before 1949, China's industrial level was backward, and machine tool manufacturing was mainly concentrated in cities such as Shanghai, Shenyang and Kunming. The national annual output was over 1,500 units, with few product varieties and a weak industrial foundation. With the gradual establishment of the industrial system, the machine tool industry has begun systematic top-level design. It has successively gone through stages such as initial introduction, independent development, and reform and opening up. It has made considerable progress in industrial strategic layout, manufacturing capacity, technological level, and market competitiveness, providing strong support for economic development and national defense construction. During the period of initial introduction and independent development, the machine tool industry overcame numerous difficulties. Under the planned economy system, it closely focused on the demands of industrial construction, completed a large number of product developments, filled the variety gap, and promoted the precision, large-scale and complete set development of products. It continuously carried out process improvement and quality system construction, gradually establishing a relatively complete industrial system for machine tools and tools. After the reform and opening up, the machine tool industry has undergone a market-oriented transformation. Under the market competition mechanism, it has restructured industrial resources, further improved and enhanced the industrial layout and product technology level, significantly strengthened the business operation capabilities and market competitiveness of enterprises, and gradually accelerated the pace of "going global".