Hangzhou, April 4 (Xinhua) -- In a physical factory in the physical world, can there still be another digital factory in the virtual world? In just a few years, digital twins have evolved from a technical concept to a new transformation path, and more and more factories are introducing new digital technologies and quietly undergoing transformation.

Walking into the exhibition hall of Hangzhou XIOLIFT, it seems to have stepped into the 7,50-square-meter "future factory", more than <> digital production lines can be switched with remote control, the operation status of manufacturing modules can be seen in real time, and the whole process can be traced and quality traced in the whole process.

The operation screen in Hangzhou XIOLIFT Factory can see the operation status of the manufacturing module in real time. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xuan

"The entire factory we design is on top of the digital infrastructure to digitize the 'whole life cycle' of customer ordering, factory design, factory production, logistics, and after-sales service." Feng Tieying, vice president of operation of XIOLIFT Factory, said that combined with a new generation of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and AI, this "digital twin factory" has achieved a double improvement in manufacturing efficiency and product quality level, achieving an annual order volume of more than 10,<> units.

Digital empowerment goes far beyond that, digital production lines with personalized customization capabilities achieve the efficiency of producing 2 elevator in 1 minutes.

XIOLIFT Factory was selected into the list of "future factories" in Zhejiang Province, and the reporter saw here that an engineer led a group of robots to work: the robotic arm flew up and down, the process was carried out in an orderly manner, and the production line ran rapidly.

A digital production line with personalized customization capabilities in Hangzhou XIOLIFT Factory. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xuan

"A production line used to require 20 people, but now it only needs one controller, and more of them are engaged in mental work, which on the one hand can reduce costs and increase efficiency in the factory, and on the other hand, it is also forcing ordinary workers to transform into technical talents." Feng Tieying said.

Zhao Wenzhi is a dispatcher of Hangzhou XIOLIFT's "Future Factory", previously a front-line assembly worker, and then through self-study, he learned to control digital related equipment, and became a senior blue-collar engineer who understands the code to "empower the factory with technology", which makes him more sense of gain and achievement.

Elevators, like cars, pay more attention to after-sales operation and maintenance services. XIOLIFT's "engineering brain" allows managers to monitor the use of elevators across the country in real time to achieve health management throughout the elevator life cycle. For example, after an elevator in a certain place fails, the background captures the location, the cause of the failure and other information, and synchronizes it to nearby maintenance personnel, which can reach the site for maintenance at the fastest speed.

The construction of "future factories" is one of the main tasks of Zhejiang's digital reform digital economy system construction, and it is also an important support for building a global advanced manufacturing base, and more and more products are being produced from these digital factories and going to the world. According to statistics, as of the end of February, 2 "future factories" in Zhejiang have effectively boosted the average production efficiency of enterprises by 52% and reduced costs by 54%.

The relevant person in charge of the Digital Economy Department of the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Zhejiang Province said: "The 'future factory' is a 'modern new industrial organizational unit'. It deeply integrates a new generation of information technology and advanced manufacturing technology, which helps to continuously promote the intelligent, green, lean, humanistic and high-end upgrading of production and operation. (Contributor: Qiu Shijie)