Chongqing - Chongqing's chemical industry, a key pillar of its trillion-level advanced materials cluster, has been a major growth driver in recent years. In the first three quarters of this year, the sector grew by 16.8%, ranking second only to the automotive industry.

To accelerate digital transformation in manufacturing, particularly in the chemical industry, the "Digital Transformation in Chongqing Manufacturing" event and the "Hundred Cities, Thousand Parks" Chemical Industry Benchmark Forum took place in Fuling District.

Among the prominent participants was Chongqing Huafon Chemical Co., Ltd., located in the Baitao Chemical Park in Fuling. The company is a recognized national high-tech private enterprise specializing in the research, development, production, sales, and service of adipic acid and its derivatives. It is home to the world’s largest single-unit production line for adipic acid, with an annual capacity of 500,000 tons.

Chongqing Huafon Chemical has the world’s largest single-unit production line for adipic acid, located in Fuling District. (Photo/Huafon Group)

This state-of-the-art facility, completed at the end of last year, has already ramped up production in 2024, delivering over 4,000 tons per day of key products such as adipic acid and cyclohexanone. These products continue to support and drive growth in the city’s new materials industry chain.

Notably, the company has deployed Chongqing’s first 5G-A technology in the industrial sector. It has achieved full coverage with a 5G private network and industrial-grade control applications. This breakthrough initiative not only meets the high-quality network communication needs required for the interconnection of industrial devices but also ensures robust data security, providing a solid foundation for the company’s continued digital and industrial transformation.

Additionally, the company has implemented an advanced adipic acid traceability system, further enhancing the transparency and efficiency of its production processes. 

The system registers enterprise data using 5G, industrial Internet, and identification resolution technology, creating a unique identification code for each business. This code is embedded in QR codes and RFID tags, allowing it to track products throughout their lifecycle. This approach greatly improves inventory turnover and boosts operational efficiency.

Staff are inspecting the adipic acid 5G packaging production line. (Photo/Huafon Group)

An AI-powered analysis platform based on machine vision has also been built to achieve intelligent monitoring of key processes, intelligent diagnosis and early warning of abnormal conditions, and timely handling of equipment failures. AI detection replaces traditional inspections, significantly reducing labor intensity and safety risks.

The ongoing digitalization efforts are not limited to Huafon Chemical. Chongqing Huafon Spandex Co., Ltd. has also introduced automated systems for coding, tube unloading, weighing, packaging, and handling, achieving full-process automation ahead of the industry. It has built the first intelligent manufacturing plant in the spandex industry, replacing manual labor with machines. 

By adopting advanced energy-saving devices and developing high-efficiency production technologies, the company has achieved the lowest global industry standards in overall energy and water consumption, becoming a benchmark in the industry.