The tide of technological advancement surges forward. As the vision of ‘building houses like assembling cars’ becomes reality, the Jianyang Economic Development Zone in Sichuan is charting the future landscape of industrialised construction through intelligent manufacturing. Step inside the MCC5 Technology Industrial Park to uncover how this ‘smart factory’ is injecting fresh momentum into Jianyang's industrial development.

Smart Control Center

Smart Workshop: Robots Showcase Industrial Aesthetics

Within the vast production halls of the industrial park, the clamour of traditional construction sites has been replaced by the tech-infused hum of machinery. Laser cutters automatically scan and position, sparks flying; automated sorting robots, like precision dancers, deftly grasp diverse components, sorting and stacking them with meticulous order; AGV intelligent carts traverse along intelligently planned routes, forming a dynamic material transport network; robotic gouging workstations synchronise cutting, flipping, and grinding operations; corbel welding stations feature precision-positioning robotic arms capable of 360-degree rotation for efficient welding. The symphony of industrial production is composed by the interplay of flying sparks and the rhythmic hum of machinery.

This is China's first fully automated steel structure component production line, soon to commence operations. Capable of performing unmanned feeding, marking, cutting, sorting and welding tasks, it has successfully established a “staff-free factory” and “l(fā)ights-out workshop” within designated zones. Production efficiency has increased by 30% compared to conventional methods. The seamless collaboration of intelligent equipment is redefining standards in steel structure manufacturing.

Production workshop

Smart Control: Production Transparency on Digital Screens

Entering the Smart Control Centre, a colossal digital screen serves as the command centre's ‘powerhouse’. Real-time data from multiple production stages—including welding, cutting, and assembly—is vividly displayed across the digital interface. With a simple keystroke, managers can monitor the entire production process comprehensively and without blind spots, achieving full transparency and visualisation.

According to Xu Zufeng, project manager for the base construction, alongside the fully automated steel component production line, the facility also houses an industry-leading prefabricated steel structure assembly line. Through technological integration, this setup achieves dual enhancements in both production efficiency.

Green and Low-Carbon: The Ecological Report Card of Southwest China's First “Green Power Factory”

On the path towards achieving the dual carbon goals, this industrial park has delivered an impressive report card. Within the workshops, an integrated ventilation and dust removal system employs high-efficiency filtration and intelligent regulation to purify production fumes to compliant emission standards. The 4-megawatt photovoltaic system atop the factory buildings generates an average of 3 million kilowatt-hours annually, enabling “green electricity” to directly power production processes. As the first steel-structured green electricity factory in Southwest China, it has not only secured Chengdu's Smart Factory certification but also become a benchmark for Jianyang's industrial green transformation. A representative from MCC5 stated that the base will continue focusing on digital manufacturing, green manufacturing, and intelligent manufacturing, driving collaborative innovation across the industrial chain to provide a ‘Jianyang solution’ for low-carbon development in the construction sector.

MCC5 Construction Technology Industrial Park

Presently, Jianyang City is firmly anchored to the objective of establishing a new manufacturing base for the Chengdu-Chongqing region. Focusing on strengthening industrial foundations and guided by new industrialisation, it is making every effort to stabilise existing capacity while expanding new growth areas. Through persistent efforts to optimise industrial structure and enhance efficiency, the city is striving to develop, refine and strengthen industries such as new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, the digital economy and green food production.

As the initial development zone for the Tianfu Data Centre Cluster under the national ‘East Data, West Computing’ initiative and a provincial demonstration base for new industrialisation (electromechanical industry), the Sichuan Jianyang Economic Development Zone has achieved remarkable results. Industrial clusters in new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and artificial intelligence are thriving, having successfully attracted 446 enterprises including Sichuan Air Separation, Liang Technology, and Gangtong Medical. The zone now hosts 35 national-level high-tech enterprises. In 2024, the city's industrial output value growth rate for enterprises above designated size reached an outstanding 16.7%, ranking first in Chengdu and demonstrating robust developmental vitality.