TIANJIN, (Xinhua) -- Inside an intelligent manufacturing base of Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC) in Tianjin, the scene is far removed from that of a traditional factory.
Three massive automated welding machines silently go about their work, emitting sparks but no smoke, with no workers in sight.
Instead, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and gantry cranes quietly shuttle materials to designated locations. Only a few figures holding controllers among the steel plates and pipes indicate that humans are still steering the operation.
Seated in front of two computer screens, 38-year-old Li Guochao adjusts parameters on digital work orders, operating the machines remotely with a click of the mouse. "The smart factory makes everything more efficient and cleaner," he said.