Sector’s boom transforms traditional industries
The success of the internet of things industry in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is helping to revitalize the city’s traditional industries, as local manufacturers partner with IoT companies to integrate smart technology into their operations.
Wuxi-based home appliance maker Little Swan has seen a major uptick in profits in 2017, thanks in part to its collaboration with JD.com and China Telecom’s Wuxi branch in developing a range of fully automatic washing machines.
The machines’ in-built sensors can detect the weight and texture of clothes and adjust the wash settings accordingly, helping to reduce water usage by 56 percent, according to Little Swan.
Users can also receive detailed reports on their machines’ water and electricity consumption and working condition.
“In the future, the washing machine will serve as an interface that can help you buy laundry detergent or find a dry cleaner when needed,” said Feng Feifei, a researcher in Little Swan’s R&D team.
Little Swan and China Telecom have also created an on-demand washing machine service called U-Clean, where users who download a mobile app can reserve and use shared washing machines placed in university campuses, hotels and residential communities.
More than 15,000 washing machines are already available via U-Clean, and the service has around 900,000 registered users, the company claims.
The innovations have played a big role in helping Little Swan generate revenues of 10.6 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) and net profits of 730 million yuan during the first half of 2017, increases of 32 percent and 26 percent year-on-year, respectively.
Wuxi Diesel Engine Works of FAW Jiefang Automotive has achieved similarly impressive results thanks to its adoption of several IoT systems.
The company has built a cutting-edge production line to produce its new CA6DM, 78 percent of which is automated, with much of the work being performed by robots coordinated via an IoT network.
“Compared with a traditional engine production line, the robots have increased our labor productivity by 50 percent, increased energy efficiency by 30 percent, and cut operational costs by 20 percent,” said a manager at the production base.
The company is also integrating sensors into its products to provide clients with detailed information on any mechanical failures inside the engine. Clients can then use the company’s app to find nearby service stations and buy replacement parts.
This has made its products more attractive to buyers, with its engine sales rising 6 percent year-on-year and sales of the CA6DM leaping 65 percent year-on-year, according to the company.
Success stories abound in other industries too.
Wuxi clothing company Heilan Home Garment made huge gains in efficiency by applying a RFID reading system developed by local IoT company Pinguan in its warehouses. Battery supplier Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment lowered its production costs 15 percent by introducing an IoT driven “collaborative office system” developed by IBM.
Some of the smart systems developed by Wuxi companies are even beginning to be adopted elsewhere, such as Envision Energy’s wind farm smart management system, which is now used by clients in the United States and United Kingdom.