EA, an offshoot of Great Wall Motors, has marked its stride in the realm of intelligent equipment creation and automated production line design. Its performance stands robust with an annual turnover nearing CNY 2 billion (£225 million). The company’s repute is further bolstered by its provision of innovative solutions to not just Great Wall Motors, but to various other automobile giants as well.
A paradigm shift was recently observed at the Great Wall Motors factory. Traditionally, wired networks governed the production line, connecting and controlling terminal equipment such as robotic arms, slide units, and swiveling tables. However, this method showed intermittent lapses, primarily due to wire degradation from extensive usage, causing production disruptions averaging 60 hours a year.
Recognizing the need for a more resilient solution, the factory embraced the introduction of an 5G advanced network. This move has catapulted the factory’s production line into a new era of efficiency and reliability. The ultra-low latency of the 5G network eliminates the constraints faced by a typical wired production line.
Yuan Zhanjiang, Deputy General Manager of the EA Industry Intelligence Department, emphasized the importance of digitalization in his press conference. He said, “Digitalisation is a must for the transformation and upgrade of manufacturing enterprises. 5G-Advanced features ultra-high reliability, low latency, and easy deployment’.’ He affirmed that these attributes have received validation in EA’s 5G-Advanced industrial Internet lab, and will soon integrate into their commercial production lines.
Reiterating this, Fan Ji’an, Chief Big Data Scientist of China Unicom, underscored the critical role of a 5G-powered industrial Internet in facilitating business transformations. He observed an increasing trend of 5G advanced applications penetrating various critical scenarios, thereby driving digitalisation in the manufacturing system. He concluded by expressing his intent of working with Huawei and other industry partners to embark on a new chapter in China’s modernization journey using 5G advanced.
The adoption of 5G advanced is gaining momentum worldwide. The year 2024 is being looked upon as a landmark period, with the commencement of 5G-Advanced’s commercial use. The first wave of 5G-Advanced networks has already been launched by 13 global operators, including China Unicom, at the Mobile Broadband Forum in Dubai. This signifies a remarkable transition of 5G-Advanced from technical verification to commercial deployment, hence paving the way for futuristic telecom advancements.
