Weichai leads industry innovation with digitized, automated manufacturing facilities

On June 12, Weichai Group's chairman Tan Xuguang announced that the company's high-end engine digital factory is now operating at full capacity, marking the rollout of the facility's 15,000th product.

The facility boasts cutting-edge automation technologies, with fully-automated systems for machining and parts logistics and distribution, as well as an 80 percent automation rate for assembly. The entire production process adheres to green and low-carbon principles.

This revolutionary factory is the world's first digitized, unmanned engine manufacturing facility, boasting a remarkable level of automation. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Weichai Lovol intelligent tractor manufacturing project, a groundbreaking endeavor in the agricultural machinery sector, has achieved a remarkable milestone by completing construction on its factory in just seven months. The project's rapid progress highlights Weichai's commitment to efficiency and innovation.

The upcoming installation of production lines on July 1 marks a significant step towards realizing the project's full potential. The factory will stand as a testament to Weichai's dedication to world-class manufacturing standards. With an automation rate of 93 percent for machining, 72 percent for welding, and 95 percent for painting, the factory will set a new benchmark in the industry.

Encompassing a sprawling 168,000 square meters, the factory will streamline the entire production process, from core component machining and chassis assembly to body welding, painting, and final vehicle testing. This integrated approach will ensure both product quality and operational efficiency.

With 3 billion yuan ($413 million) in investment, the project is expected to produce 100,000 tractors annually, with one tractor rolling off the assembly line every four minutes. These high-end intelligent tractors will not only fill a void in the domestic market but also revolutionize agricultural practices with their advanced technology and capabilities.

The construction site of the Weichai Lovol intelligent tractor manufacturing project is bustling with activity. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Weichai (Yantai) New Energy Power Industrial Park, another key project in Shandong, is poised to become a hub for the world-class production of new energy vehicle batteries, motors, electronic controls, and powertrains. Embracing intelligent, automated, and highly flexible manufacturing processes, it will set a new standard for the industry.

The steel structure for the park's factory is now complete, paving the way for equipment installation in October. The park will not only support the green transformation of commercial vehicles and construction machinery under Shandong Heavy Industry Group but also establish a comprehensive global new energy industrial chain and solutions for commercial vehicles, encompassing everything from components to complete vehicles.

These three major projects, each positioned as world-class, carry the mission of sci-tech self-reliance and self-improvement. Moving towards intelligence, innovation, and green development, they outline the vision of new quality productive forces.

An aerial view of the Weichai (Yantai) New Energy Power Industrial Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]