China's innovative solutions propel global shifts toward smarter, greener industries
GUANGZHOU (July 14): As global industries accelerate their transition toward intelligence and sustainability, China's innovative solutions form vital components of international supply chains, driving cross-sector transformation.
SMARTER FACTORIES
At Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation's Huizhou facility in south China, an automated warehouse operates efficiently with only two staff members. Materials glide autonomously through storage systems, arriving precisely at workstations as needed. A central control screen displays real-time inventory levels, material usage frequency, and shelf capacity.
'This system cuts operational costs by over 30 percent while boosting productivity by 40 percent,' said Duan Yajie, general manager of Lyric subsidiary Shunchu Intelligence. Overseas orders for such integrated solutions now constitute over 40 percent of the subsidiary's total business.
Lyric's intelligent factories serve industry leaders across six countries. From battery plants in North America to a comprehensive automotive logistics center in Hungary, as well as sectors like renewable energy and AI computing, Lyric has supported clients in establishing digital factories using technologies such as intelligent sensing, precision control and execution systems.
With subsidiaries in 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States, Lyric has navigated cross-cultural challenges through co-developed standards. 'Building consensus during the design phase helps prevent conflicts during implementation,' Lyric's co-founder Lu Jiahong said.
'Once rare on European streets, electric vehicles are now increasingly common, reflecting the combined efforts of Chinese equipment, battery and auto manufacturers,' she added.
POWERING ENERGY REVOLUTION
EVE Energy Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese lithium battery company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, is advancing its global manufacturing strategy with a new battery production base in Hungary's Debrecen.
The facility represents a transformative industrial upgrade for the region, introducing advanced manufacturing systems where agricultural production once dominated the local economy.
'We're bringing advanced industrial production to this region, creating employment while accelerating the energy transition,' stated EVE vice president Jiang Min. He added that the Debrecen base is scheduled to begin production in late 2026, while their overseas facility in Malaysia is already operational.
Ranked fourth globally in cylindrical battery shipments and second in energy storage capacity for 2024, EVE Energy operates 12 production bases across Asia, Europe and North America. Its power batteries supply premier global automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover.
According to Jiang, the company continues to expand investments in carbon-reduction technologies. It has recently established a comprehensive resource recovery ecosystem with over 10 partners. 'Collaborative expansion across the industrial chain creates mutual benefits,' Jiang said.
A staff member operates a robot to perform synchronous action at a provincial embodied artificial intelligence robot innovation center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
VISION FOR INTELLIGENT MACHINES
At Orbbec's Shenzhen exhibition hall, a food-delivery robot navigates through display areas, skillfully avoiding obstacles.
This agility comes from its 3D vision sensors, powered by the proprietary 'MX6600' chip, which measures about 9 square millimeters. This chip processes depth-sensing data to enable high-precision spatial mapping.
Currently, 7 out of 10 service robots in China use Orbbec sensors, while international clients grew by 77 percent year on year to 1,469 in 2024, including major companies like Nvidia and Microsoft.
'We concentrate on foundational technologies,' said Huang Yuanhao, founder of Orbbec. 'We are one of the few companies worldwide to cover all major 3D vision perception technology approaches, serving global robotics enterprises across various sectors, such as smart factories, warehouse logistics, construction automation, and intelligent inspection,' he added.
Orbbec also offers rapid technical support to better serve its global users. 'Some of our products have demanding technical service requirements, and excellent service is a major factor why overseas users choose us,' said Orbbec's CFO Chen Bin.
China's global engagement is transitioning from manufacturing exports to integrated technological empowerment, said Yang Boru, professor at the School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong. As these innovative solutions expand worldwide, they have become key drivers of intelligent and sustainable industrialization, he added. – Xinhua China industrial innovation robotics supply chain
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 minutes ago
- The Star
Asian markets mixed as China's economy meets forecasts
HONG KONG: Markets were mixed Tuesday (July 15) as positive Chinese economic data was offset by weak consumer spending, while optimism that governments will hammer out deals to avoid the worst of Donald Trump's tariff threats provided support. Beijing said gross domestic product expanded 5.2 per cent in April-June thanks to a surge in exports as businesses front-loaded shipments ahead of the US president's stiff levies, and after the superpowers agreed to work on a long-term pact. While the reading was slightly slower than the first quarter, it was in line with forecasts in an AFP survey and comes after figures on Monday showed exports soared more than expected in June, including a strong recovery in goods sent to the United States. Meanwhile, industrial output came in above expectations. However, Tuesday's reports showed efforts to boost consumer activity continue to fall flat, with retail sales expanding 4.8 per cent last month, well below estimates in a Bloomberg study and highlighting the work leaders face in kickstarting the economy. China's recovery has been hamstrung by a bruising trade war with the United States, driven by Trump's sweeping tariffs, though the two de-escalated their spat with a framework for a deal at talks in London last month. But observers warn of lingering uncertainty. "The national economy withstood pressure and made steady improvement despite challenges," National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) deputy director Sheng Laiyun told a news conference. "Production and demand grew steadily, employment was generally stable, household income continued to increase, new growth drivers witnessed robust development, and high-quality development made new strides," he said. And the US president upped the ante Monday, warning Russia's trading partners - which include China - that he will impose tariffs reaching 100 per cent if Moscow fails to end its war on Ukraine within 50 days. After a strong start to the day, Hong Kong pared an early rally while Shanghai dipped into negative territory. Elsewhere, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta rose, with Seoul and Manila in the red. Trump also Monday said he will impose antidumping duties on most imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, with the US Commerce Department accusing its neighbour of engaging in unfair trade. That came after he said he would hit the country and the European Union with 30 per cent levies, having announced a slew of measures against key partners last week if deals are not struck by August 1. However, analysts said investors viewed the warnings as negotiating ploys rather than a genuine move, citing previous threats that were later rowed back. The mixed performance in Asian markets followed a healthy day on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq hit another record high. Bitcoin edged down after hitting a record high above US$123,200 on Monday thanks to optimism over possible regulatory changes for crypto assets in the United States. - AFP
BusinessToday
an hour ago
- BusinessToday
MSMEs Urge Dialogue On e-Commerce Fee Structure Plans
The Malaysian Micro Business Association (MAMBA) has urged for a more balanced and constructive conversation regarding recent fee structure adjustments by e-commerce platforms. The association believes a holistic perspective is needed, one that considers both the sustainability of digital platforms and the competitiveness of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Alvin Low Wei Yan, Secretary-General of MAMBA, emphasised the need to avoid 'scare tactics and politicising important conversations that directly affect thousands of Malaysian sellers.' He stressed the importance of open discussion to ensure a win-win situation for sellers, shoppers, and platforms alike. MAMBA acknowledged that price hikes are challenging but highlighted current global dynamics, particularly the escalating US-China trade war and the imposition of tariffs. These factors are expected to trigger a surge of low-cost Chinese products being redirected into Southeast Asian markets, including Malaysia. 'We are already seeing cheap imports entering the market through new and existing e-commerce platforms targeting consumers in Malaysia, undercutting local sellers and threatening their long-term survival,' Low stated, anticipating an acceleration of this trend in the coming months. To counter these pressures, MAMBA believes it is critical for both the Government and local sellers to support and collaborate with platforms that continue to prioritize MSMEs. The association stressed that platforms must continue investing in infrastructure, tools, and services to improve customer satisfaction, such as faster delivery, reliable refund processes, better search functions, and AI-powered product recommendations. These improvements are seen as vital for attracting buyers, increasing traffic, and boosting visibility and conversion rates for sellers. Low underscored that 'good customer experience is not just a buyer issue—it's a seller issue too.' He added that platforms need significant investment to independently fund upgrades in areas like AI tools, logistics, fraud prevention, and customer support. If platforms are unable to reinvest due to pricing pressure or policy uncertainty, the entire seller ecosystem will suffer in the long run. MAMBA believes these joint investments by both sellers and platforms will ultimately yield positive returns. Citing data from GlobalData, MAMBA noted that the Malaysian e-commerce market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% between 2024 and 2028, reaching MYR67.1 billion (USD14.7 billion) by 2028. This outlook, they argue, reinforces the importance of reinvestment and innovation for long-term competitiveness. The association reiterated the importance of balancing MSME needs with rising customer expectations, cautioning against 'blanket criticism' of e-commerce platforms. Low warned that 'calling for authorities to threaten or punish platforms simply for raising fees is counter-productive and risks undermining the very ecosystem we are trying to strengthen.' MAMBA calls for an open dialogue between the government, platforms, and seller associations to chart a sustainable and inclusive path forward, ensuring Malaysian MSMEs continue to thrive amidst mounting global pressures. Related
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Dollar holds near 3-week high before CPI; bitcoin eases back from record peak
TOKYO: The dollar hovered near a three-week high versus major peers on Tuesday as traders awaited the release of US inflation data later in the day that could provide clues on the path for monetary policy. The US currency was also buoyed by elevated Treasury yields, with investors weighing a potential exit of Jerome Powell from the Federal Reserve as President Donald Trump continued his criticism of the central bank chairman. Currencies showed little reaction to data showing China's economy grew 5.2 per cent last quarter, slightly topping analysts' forecasts. Bitcoin drifted further from Monday's all-time peak of US$123,153.22 following a seven-day, 14 per cent surge as investors bet on long-sought legislative policy wins for the cryptocurrency industry this week. It was changed hands at around US$118,215 as of 0240 GMT. The dollar was little changed at 147.68 yen, after earlier rising to the highest since June 23 at 147.89 yen. The dollar index, which tracks the currency against the yen and five other major rivals, stood at 98.050, not far below the overnight peak of 98.136, the highest since June 25. The euro edged up slightly to US$1.1671 after slipping to US$1.1650 on Monday for the first time since June 25. Fed Chair Powell has said he expects inflation to increase this summer as a result of tariffs, which is seen keeping the US central bank on hold until later in the year. Economists polled by Reuters expect headline inflation to increase to 2.7 per cent on an annual basis, up from 2.4 per cent the prior month. Core inflation is expected to rise to 3.0 per cent, from 2.8 per cent. "Should inflation fail to materialise or remain steady, questions may arise regarding the Fed's recent decision not to cut rates, potentially intensifying calls for monetary easing," James Kniveton, senior corporate FX dealer at Convera, wrote in a client note. "Calls from the White House for leadership changes at the Fed may increase." Trump on Monday renewed his attacks on Powell, saying interest rates should be at 1 per cent or lower, rather than the 4.25 per cent to 4.50 per cent range the Fed has kept the key rate at so far this year. Fed funds futures traders have been pricing in 50 basis points of interest rate cuts by year-end, with the first reduction expected in September. "If Powell leaves, we expect the (US Treasury yield) curve to steepen sharply, with the short-end factoring in front-loaded rates cuts," DBS analysts wrote in a note. "Meanwhile, the loss of confidence in price stability should translate into sharply higher 10-year and 30-year yields." China's economic growth topped market forecasts in the second quarter - even as it slowed slightly from the prior three months - in a sign of resilience against US tariffs. At the same time, analysts warned of underlying weakness and rising risks that will ramp up pressure on Beijing to roll out more stimulus. The Chinese yuan was flat at 7.1728 per dollar.
