Introduction
How does “robots manufacturing robots” transition from science fiction to reality?
This March, the Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival arrived as scheduled
When visitors step into Baoshan Gucun Park
They can not only enjoy the splendid blooming of cherry blossoms
But also witness the wonderful scene of humanoid robots on the runway
Why do robots and cherry blossoms create such a romantic spark? The answer lies in —Gucun Town。This is not only the base for industrial robot research and manufacturing in Baoshan District but also the location of Shanghai’s first city-level characteristic industrial park named after robots — the Shanghai Robot Industry Park.
“The global industrial robot output value looks to China, China looks to Shanghai, and Shanghai looks to Baoshan.We account for 1/9 of the national output and 1/3 of Shanghai’s output.” said Zhang Ying, General Manager of the Shanghai Robot Industry Park.
Recently, the People’s Daily “Marching China” Shanghai research interview group entered Gucun Town, exploring this industrial park rich in “robot” characteristics, seeking to understandHow “robots manufacturing robots” transitions from science fiction to reality。
On the north side of Fuliansan Road in Baoshan District, a factory stands out: its iconic bright yellow color, paired with the red “FANUC” logo. This is the Shanghai FANUC Intelligent Factory (Phase III) within the Shanghai Robot Industry Park, the largest robot base globally outside Japan, known as the “super intelligent factory” in the robotics industry.
FANUC Intelligent Manufacturing Experience Center. Photo provided by Baoshan District News Office
Entering the Intelligent Manufacturing Experience Center feels like stepping into a future factory: diversified automotive assembly is precise and efficient, heavy load handling is orderly, and intelligent visual inspection is meticulous… Over 50 sets of robots from different industries and processes are operating in an orderly manner. Huge mechanical “arms” move flexibly, and the buzzing sound of operation is incessant.
This “super intelligent factory” with a total investment of 1.58 billion RMB covers an area of 300,000 square meters. What makes it “super”? According to the relevant person in charge of the enterprise, the answer lies in —The concentrated display of intelligent manufacturing concepts. Taking the sheet metal production line as an example, the automation rate has exceeded 95%, achieving unmanned intelligent production.
“FANUC is one of the ‘big four’ global industrial robot manufacturers, with strong comprehensive strength, playing a crucial role in the Baoshan and Shanghai regional economy.” Zhang Ying told reporters.
The annual output value of this “super intelligent factory” aims for 10 billion RMB, vividly reflecting over a decade of deep cultivation of the industrial ecosystem by the Shanghai Robot Industry Park.From the completion of the first FANUC factory to its gradual upgrade to a “super intelligent factory”, the 17-year-old “leading enterprise” FANUC has provided a benchmark for the park to learn from and has sown the seeds of ecology for the Baoshan robot industry.
Competition in the robot industry is fierce; how can the park break through? Zhang Ying mentioned“differentiated development”, with the key factor being a “scarce” advantage —The “104” plot closest to the city center, which provides the possibility for the park to carry out industrial manufacturing and opens up a new path for differentiated development.
The People’s Daily “Marching China” Shanghai research interview group entered the Shanghai Robot Industry Park. Photo by Gu Haimin, People’s Daily
“The Shanghai Robot Industry Park serves as the core position for Baoshan’s ‘northern transformation’, with significant economic effects.”
Like small gears engaging with large gears
As one of the two major business cards of Gucun Town
The industrial park injects strong momentum into economic growth
Effectively enhancing the industrial visibility of the town
A relevant person in Gucun Town stated
We will build a comprehensive support system
To form a virtuous cycle of collaboration between the park and the local area
Aerial view of the Shanghai Robot Industry Park. Photo provided by the Shanghai Robot Industry Park
On this land of only 3.09 square kilometers, the park “attracts large and strong enterprises” with a unique model of “leading enterprises leading + small and medium enterprises coexisting + foreign enterprises integrating”, reshaping the competitive landscape of China’s robot industry.
A detail reveals a glimpse —
When FANUC’s robotic arm precisely welds in the automotive factory, it connects not only steel plates but also the future of an industrial ecosystem. A set of data supports this: the total industrial output value of the park has climbed from 17 billion RMB in 2020 to25.87 billion RMB in 2024, with an increase ofover 52%。The Shanghai Robot Industry Park has become a “growth pole” for Shanghai’s economic development and an “engine”.
In the park’s exhibition hall, the vision of “creating a globally influential robot and intelligent manufacturing industry cluster and application ecosystem” inspires progress. By 2024, the park will gatherover 270upstream and downstream robot enterprises, accounting for over80% of the total in the park, forming a complete robot industry chain.
“Creating global influence is our grand goal.”Zhang Ying stated that the park is laying out a new track for “embodied intelligence”, hoping to attract leading humanoid robot enterprises and cultivate new growth points. Just in June, Shanghai Depu Intelligent Robot, a joint venture between Furande and Kepler Robotics, settled in the park, promoting the seamless integration of the entire intelligent manufacturing chain.
Relying on the heavyweight positioning of the “national-level characteristic industrial cluster for small and medium enterprises”, the park is actively building a core bearing area for Shanghai’s construction of a trillion-level “robot and high-end equipment” industrial cluster.
In recent years, intelligent manufacturing has flourished in Shanghai, contributing the “Shanghai engine” and “hardcore solutions” to the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse. In 2023, the total industrial output value of Shanghai’s intelligent manufacturing system integration exceeded 60 billion RMB, and the scale of the intelligent manufacturing equipment industry surpassed 100 billion RMB. In the same year, Shanghai issued the “Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Innovative Development of the Intelligent Robot Industry in Shanghai (2023-2025)”, clearly aiming to build a globally influential innovation highland for the robot industry by 2025.
Based in Gucun, looking at the world
Shanghai is leveraging the robot industry as a fulcrum
To help “China Intelligent Manufacturing” cross mountains and seas
Shining on the global stage
Disclaimer
Article source: People’s Daily official WeChat account in Shanghai
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