New Technology for China’s Special Vehicles Sector
On July 28, the “super-Magellan digital production line” of Yangzhou CIMC Tonghua Special Vehicles Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CIMC Tonghua) was officially put into production, which makes the company the first manufacturer of special vehicles in China to boast multiple super-new technologies. The company not only has advanced equipment such as China’s first digital plant, the first 3D laser spray line in the Asia-Pacific region, and the automated robot spraying line for ultra-complex workpieces but also is the pioneer in the industry to use advanced digital design methods such as the module platform for product configuration, full 3D design of parts, and integration of simulation and analysis… This is also the second “lighthouse plant” of CIMC Vehicles.
The “Magellan project” is a pilot project in the transformation and upgrading to digital plants implemented by CIMC Vehicles. With the construction of digital coach plants by CIMC Vehicles, technical elements of the digital plant are comprehensively validated and accumulated, providing technologies and the example for upgrading for the company to construct digital plants. The “super-Magellan project” is to add KTL electrophoresis equipment and advanced assembling lines on top of the “Magellan project and the digital coach plant” so as to realize the transformation and upgrading of the entire line.
CIMC Tonghua took the lead in building with digital tools a value chain running from marketing, R&D, manufacturing through to after-sales services and realized the visible, transparent, and efficient management of the full life cycle of products. According to experts, these new technologies are unprecedented in the history of China’s special vehicle sector and no other successful cases can be found internationally. At the critical juncture when China is under greater pressure for conservation of the environment and in the shift from the old driving force to a new one, the exploration made by CIMC Tonghua has an exemplary significance.
Dr. Derek Li, Technical Director of CIMC Vehicles, believes that, with this production line, the productivity will be significantly improved and the delivery period will be largely shortened. He said, “CIMC Tonghua has 26 years of experience in innovation and practices. It has performed the development of multiple national and regional standards and specifications with the ability and responsibility to build an advanced digital design and manufacturing system for semi-trailers.” This young expert added that customized smart marketing assistants would be developed for the new line to realize customized smart order configuration.
“While we have made a great achievement regarding technologies, there are still various obstacles for us to overcome when compared to the manufacturing sectors of developed countries and regions such as Europe and the US.” Liu Hongqing, President of CIMC Tonghua Digital Semi-trailer Joint Company , argues that the “upgrading of production lines” will definitely shift the organizational structure and that “We will spare no efforts in building an agile organization and have more young people who are familiar with automation, digital technology, and digital management take important positions in the company through ‘reshaping of the organization.’”
The launching of the “super-Magellan digital production line” stands for a nutshell of CIMC Vehicles’s efforts in the “upgrading of production lines.” It is a disruption to the conventional model for production and management in the special vehicle sector, with special vehicles manufactured in the approach used to produce commercial vehicles. It is also a sign of the upcoming “smart” era in which special vehicles are produced in a digital way. Currently, the preparation for building the second phase of CIMC Tonghua’s digital plant for semi-trailers is underway and the construction is expected to start within this year. Later, the digital plant for tank trucks will be planned. CIMC Vehicles will continue to increase its “lighthouse plants” in the future.