"Xiao Li, how is the debugging of your prototype? Mr. Wang just said that he would also bring the newly developed automatic deviation correction system to the booth!" Chen Gong from the equipment department shouted to the assembly workshop while checking the list. At this time, there are still three weeks left before the opening of the 2024 International Machinery Exhibition, and every corner of the ply-pack packaging machine factory is filled with the atmosphere of preparation.
As a weathervane in the packaging equipment industry, this year's International Machinery Exhibition will bring together industry giants from more than 50 countries around the world. Since our factory's independently developed seventh-generation intelligent production line opened up the Southeast Asian market last year, this time it decided to debut with a full set of equipment upgrade solutions. "This time, we will not only demonstrate the performance of a single machine, but also present the intelligent solution of the entire factory." The technical director repeatedly emphasized at the mobilization meeting. I saw with my own eyes that the engineers were debugging the eight-axis linkage packaging unit at the R&D center. The smooth movement of the robotic arm was nearly twice as fast as the demonstration model at last year's exhibition.
Colleagues in the marketing department have been very busy recently. They specially planned an immersive experience area for this machinery exhibition. Xiao Liu from the marketing department told me: "We have arranged a real-time data dashboard at the booth, and customers can see the energy consumption comparison of the equipment when it is running. This visualization solution is the first in the industry." In order to let overseas merchants understand the performance of the equipment more intuitively, the publicity team also rushed to produce an AR demonstration system in six languages overnight.
When walking through the quality inspection workshop, I happened to meet the purchasing department accepting new alloy materials. "This batch of wear-resistant conveyor belts is specially customized for the exhibition prototype," said Lao Zhao, who is in charge of purchasing. "Last year, a customer tested the equipment at the machinery exhibition and it ran continuously for 72 hours. This year, we have to prepare for a 120-hour endurance display." Behind him, there were more than 20 packaging boxes with the label "Special for the International Machinery Exhibition", which glowed with a cold metallic luster in the sun.
"Attention! Attention! The intelligent production line module of the No. 3 exhibition car needs to be reloaded!" The intercom of the logistics manager suddenly sounded. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the warehouse, I saw six 13-meter-long special exhibition cars undergoing the final inspection. These customized transportation equipment not only contain our trump card equipment, but also carefully designed scenario-based solution models - from food and medicine to daily chemicals and electronics, covering the typical packaging needs of eight major industries.
The girls in the administrative department were not idle either. They specially designed an interactive session with the theme of "Packaging Machine Innovation". I heard that 300 sets of souvenirs containing core component models were prepared, each of which was engraved with the words "Special Edition of the 2024 International Machinery Exhibition". Xiao Yang, who was in charge of the reception, told me mysteriously: "There is a surprise on the opening day. We contacted customer representatives from three countries to do on-site online demonstrations."
Standing on the roof of the office building overlooking the factory area, the lights of the R&D building were still on until late at night. The technical team is overcoming the last difficulty - allowing the new visual inspection system to achieve ±0.1mm accuracy at the exhibition site. This extreme pursuit of details is the key to our factory's ability to stand out at previous machinery exhibitions.
"Mr. Chen, the newly designed rapid mold change structure has passed the test!" The assembly workshop suddenly cheered. Looking at the equipment ready to go on the flatbed truck, I couldn't help but think of the scene at the machinery exhibition last year when a German customer touched our equipment and said, "This is the real Chinese smart manufacturing." This year, when these innovative packaging machine achievements that condense the efforts of the entire factory appear on the international stage, what kind of story will they write?
"What are you daydreaming about? Come and help me!" Production Director Lao Zhou passed by me carrying two boxes of spare parts. "I'm afraid I'll have to work overtime to catch up on orders after returning from the machinery exhibition!" His hearty laughter mixed with the hum of equipment debugging echoed in the spring factory for a long time...
