Sichuan Daily Full Media Reporter Wen Lumin, reporting from Hefei, Anhui
"I just had a conversation with a professor from the University of Science and Technology of China, and they are very interested in the collaboration model for space in-orbit experiments." Just over an hour after the exhibition opened at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention on September 20, Huang Hao, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Ziwei Yutong Technology Co., Ltd., had already added several new WeChat contacts. The DEMO model of the Ziwei Technology C2000 medium-sized cargo spacecraft, brought by the company's subsidiary, Chengdu Ziwei Space Technology Co., Ltd., stands as the tallest and most eye-catching exhibit at the Sichuan Pavilion.
From September 20 to 23, the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention is being held in Hefei, Anhui. Serving as the Guest Province of Honor, Sichuan has organized over 50 high-quality enterprises to showcase more than a hundred (sets of) landmark products. Featuring commercial spacecraft, humanoid robots, and more, the Sichuan Pavilion serves as a "condensed version" of Sichuan's manufacturing capabilities, brimming with innovative ideas.
Aiming at New Scenarios, Established Companies Brew New Strategies
At the Sichuan Pavilion, the model of the Dongfang 630°C clean and efficient coal power equipment brought by Dongfang Electric Group drew crowds of visitors. Its prototype unit is currently in operation in Yuncheng, Shandong—when it went into production this year, the unit broke the "620°C ceiling" for steam parameters, setting four new global records for coal power units: highest temperature, highest pressure, highest efficiency, and lowest coal consumption.
Dongfang Electric Group, known for its expertise in "boiling water," is not only pursuing innovation in the coal power sector. The nearby model of the Dongfang solar thermal power generation concentrating and collecting system recreates the scenario of using tens of thousands of large mirrors to concentrate sunlight to "boil water" and then generate steam for electricity. The reporter learned that the company began laying out its strategy in the frontier field of solar thermal as early as 2009.
The story of mastering new "signature moves" by switching between different tracks was also evident at the Changhong booth. This time, Changhong did not bring home appliances to the convention, but instead brought its independently developed "Shouyue" wheeled humanoid robot. The robot completed a series of actions smoothly—picking up laundry, placing it in the washing machine, and closing the door. "This is not a performance, not a 'show', but the realization of true physical operation—it can carry, deliver, and organize," explained the person in charge of Changhong's embodied intelligence division. One of the highlights of this robot is its ability to perform precise operations, autonomous movement, and complete long-horizon tasks.
For a veteran home appliance company to enter the field of home service robots may seem like a cross-industry move, but it is backed by solid confidence. "We are not 'building a human' from scratch; we are transferring the advantages we have accumulated over decades—understanding of home scenarios, channels, and supply chains—onto the robot," the Changhong official stated. Currently, Changhong is focusing on scenarios such as laundry assistance, cooking and meal preparation, safety inspection, and voice companionship, continuously developing and iterating on its robots.
Seizing New Tracks, Developing 'Space Logistics Vessels'
The standout exhibit at the Sichuan Pavilion—the DEMO model of the Ziwei Technology C2000 medium-sized cargo spacecraft—is scheduled to complete its development by the end of the year. With a full load capacity of 2,000 kilograms, it is not only a "space logistics vessel" but also a "processing plant" and "laboratory" in space. It can be used for low-cost cargo transportation of space supplies and can also meet the needs for space verification and development in areas such as microgravity science, space life sciences, new space materials, new space technologies, and space breeding.
Ziwei Technology is one of the earliest domestic companies to enter the commercial space spacecraft track. The drive to enter early comes from the vast and boundless "blue ocean" of commercial space. "In 2022, when the China Space Station was officially declared fully complete, we hoped to become a beneficial supplement to the 'national heavy equipment' and empower the development of new forms of the space economy," Huang Hao stated.
"The duck feels the warmth of spring water first." As long as there is market demand and industry trends, companies will get a "seat at the table" early. But whether they can "win the game" depends on the strength of their "hand." At the Sichuan Pavilion, Sichuan Strong Laser Technology Co., Ltd. also brought new products: a handheld laser welding machine for industrial welding scenarios and a high-brightness continuous single-mode infrared laser for 3D printing equipment.
"Weld deep, and weld well." Taking the handheld laser welder as an example, Ding Ke, head of the planning department at Strong Laser, noted that the company was the first to apply small core diameter technology to handheld laser welding. With a core diameter of only 14 micrometers, it can produce better beam quality, higher energy density, and deeper weld penetration at the same power level, solving the pain point of traditional handheld welders struggling to weld thick plates due to their small size. "Downstream shipyards and 3D printing equipment companies are seeing a surge in orders, driving rapid growth in our company's revenue."
"Sichuan's rich manufacturing scenarios and innovative resources provide us with strong momentum," Ding Ke explained. Focusing on vertical scenarios such as low-altitude safety, laser welding, precision manufacturing, and laser medical treatment, Strong Laser will continue to build a diversified product matrix to provide more support for the development of manufacturing in Sichuan and the entire country.