In Guangzhou, a national manufacturing “single champion” demonstration enterprise has emerged as a beacon of innovation and resilience in the field of intelligent manufacturing. Guangzhou Risong Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a company that began 28 years ago as a foreign product agent after two entrepreneurial ventures, has evolved into a holding joint venture and two wholly-owned subsidiaries. With 20 core technological achievements independently developed, many of which fill domestic gaps—such as the research, development, and industrialization of intelligent welding and grinding robot systems based on visual technology, and intelligent stirring friction welding technology and key equipment for lightweight alloys—the company went public on the A-share Sci-Tech Innovation Board in 2020. It has become a benchmark enterprise in China’s robotics, industrial software, and intelligent manufacturing sectors. The most defining characteristic of Risong Technology is its pragmatic approach, encompassing firm信念, down-to-earth作风, pioneering innovation, and a spirit of daring to be first. Recently, the editor conducted an exclusive interview with Sun Zhiqiang, Chairman and President of Risong Technology. With unique perspectives and rich实践经验, he revealed the true essence of enterprise development and showcased a bright future for the industry.
After the completion of the Risong Technology Park, the company strategically oriented itself toward “robotics, machine vision, industrial software, industrial interconnection, and intelligent manufacturing solutions,” deploying across three major industries: automotive工业, general工业, and digital工业. This has significantly enhanced its overall strength. Currently, the company has opened up vast markets in the fields of intelligent manufacturing systems and robot scenario application development,打通了快速发展的通道.
- Achieving Leapfrog Development in Manufacturing Systems and Scenario Applications
The editor inquired about Risong Technology’s major breakthroughs in tackling intelligent manufacturing systems and robot scenario application development, asking how the company successfully shifted toward manufacturing systems and scenario applications, and what成果和创举 it has achieved.
Sun Zhiqiang emphasized that having robot本体 alone does not constitute intelligent manufacturing production; only with intelligent manufacturing production lines can the issue of “application” in the robotics industry be truly resolved. Based on this thinking, Risong Technology has persisted in technological research, development, and innovation in related industries such as robotics, industrial software, and intelligent manufacturing, exploring the叠加效应 of the entire robotics industry chain. By integrating intelligent manufacturing with technological innovation and application services, the company has achieved favorable outcomes. In the automotive industry, Risong Technology is one of the largest domestic automotive equipment technology R&D and manufacturers. It has assisted GAC Motor in achieving fully unmanned production lines and provided Mazda with the first domestically自主研发 and率先量产的 flexible intelligent door adjustment line. In general industries, the company has realized unmanned production processes in sectors such as heavy machinery, two-wheeled vehicles, 3C electronics, elevators, aerospace, and rail transit, providing semiconductor back-end packaging intelligent flexible production lines for the aerospace field. For the new energy industry, it has developed stirring friction welding and process technology solutions for high-quality lightweight materials. In the digital industrial domain, Risong Technology has independently developed technologies like machine vision, industrial software, and process management cloud platforms, offering robust support for industrial digitization, informatization, and networking.
The editor noted having interviewed the company in 2017 and, six years later, being amazed by Risong Technology’s current development height. Sun was asked to introduce the company’s recent operational效益 and development highlights.
Sun disclosed that the company’s annual operating revenue in 2022 was 1.006 billion yuan, an increase of 8.03% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2023, operating revenue was 255 million yuan, with a net profit of 10 million yuan,同比增长 44.59%. In recent years, the company has continuously explored more细分 markets and new application scenarios in intelligent manufacturing, gaining new growth points. Particularly, its new energy automotive business has grown rapidly, establishing long-term cooperative relationships with over 10 clients including Toyota, Honda, GAC Aion, XPeng, Leapmotor, BYD, Chang’an, and Geely. Simultaneously, the company has expanded its business in heavy machinery, two-wheeled vehicles, 3C electronics, elevators, aerospace, and rail transit, with some products entering international markets. Additionally, it has launched deep learning software platforms for industrial scenarios and standard machine vision products. Stiring friction welding equipment and C-type machines, among other new material and new process intelligent equipment, have achieved industrialized applications in fields such as new energy vehicles, aerospace, and 5G communications.
- Adhering to the “Technology Leads Enterprise Development” Philosophy, Driving Technological Innovation to the Industry Forefront
Persisting in innovation and valuing talent are the driving forces behind Risong Technology’s sustained development. The company not only focuses on internal talent cultivation but also actively introduces international high-end talents. As of December 2022, the company has accumulated 310 intellectual property rights, including 57 invention patents and 43 computer software copyrights. It has been awarded titles such as National Manufacturing “Single Champion Demonstration Enterprise,” National Specialized and Sophisticated “Little Giant” Enterprise, and National High-Tech Enterprise.
The editor asked Sun to discuss the company’s practices and成效 in technological innovation, especially in machine vision and industrial software development, given that adhering to “technology leads enterprise development” and continuously攻克和掌握核心技术 are key factors in Risong Technology’s rapid growth.
Sun explained that through continuous R&D accumulation, tracking customer needs, and完善研发机制, the company continually consolidates its technological领先优势. He stated that Risong Technology’s technological innovation follows industry frontiers and market demands. Currently, the company’s Feishu Industrial Software has gradually matured, and in the future, it aims to launch professional software modules that meet more细分行业和应用场景, building a professional, efficient, and lightweight collaborative design platform and industrial software APP ecosystem, forming a “product + service” marketing model. In recent years, Risong Technology has independently developed machine vision technology based on AI artificial intelligence algorithms, integrating robot application technology, electrical control technology, and IOT cloud technology. It具备微米级超高精度,毫秒级超快速度, and多维度多种应用场景定位,检测,分类,识别的功能, truly achieving “machines replacing humans.” The company is currently developing machine vision products suitable for general industrial fields, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional glue detection, three-dimensional visual inspection, and three-dimensional laser vision guidance systems.
The editor requested an introduction to the company’s talent strategy and研发机制.
Sun noted that the company has 206 design personnel, accounting for 27.39% of the total workforce. In 2022, R&D investment was 67 million yuan, an increase of 51.81% year-on-year. In personnel cultivation, the company practices both internal and external approaches, emphasizing and prioritizing internal training. By cooperating with renowned domestic universities to定向培养 master’s and doctoral students, implementing employee stock incentive plans, and完善职级体系,绩效考核及人才激励体系, it better cultivates and retains talent. Additionally, it actively collaborates with internationally renowned enterprises, introducing一批优秀人才 from countries like Germany, the United States, and Japan. The company proactively creates favorable conditions for international talents, helping them realize self-value and quickly integrate into the company family. These talent inflows not only enhance the company’s scientific research capabilities but also boost the活跃度 of the technical team. Risong Technology, guided by strategic development planning, focuses on the R&D and application of its core technologies and软性技术, establishing scientific decision-making, execution, and supervision mechanisms to ensure orderly progress in the company’s R&D activities.
- Actively Fulfilling Social Responsibility, Offering Suggestions for Realizing the Localization of Mid-to-High-End Robots
As a pioneer in China’s robotics and intelligent equipment industry, Risong Technology hopes to accelerate the localization process of mid-to-high-end robots through diligent practice, promoting China’s intelligent manufacturing to world-class levels. As the company’s founder, Chairman Sun Zhiqiang不负肩上重任, personally submitting relevant proposals to the National Two Sessions, which have attracted national attention and鼓舞了国内机器人业界.
The editor congratulated Chairman Sun on being elected as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and participating in this year’s National Two Sessions. As副理事长 of the Guangdong Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, this is a pride for Guangdong’s shipbuilding industry. The editor asked what proposals Sun submitted at the National Two Sessions and his views on the current stage and future direction of China’s robotics and high-end intelligent equipment.
Sun replied that at this year’s National Two Sessions, he submitted a proposal titled “Suggestions on Breaking Through the Last Kilometer of Domestic Substitution in the Application of Mid-to-High-End Industrial Robots,” which has now been formally立案. Solving the key core issues of自主可控 in the robotics industry and accelerating the domestic substitution of robots in mid-to-high-end fields is urgent. He suggested giving full play to China’s institutional and market advantages, exerting efforts from both the demand and supply sides, and improving the application level of domestic robots in terms of funds, resources, and talents. Currently, China’s robotics and high-end intelligent equipment industry is in a development stage of “from large to strong.” Future directions should focus on three aspects: first, accelerating the domestic substitution process of the industrial robot industry, moving from domestic substitution to international competition, and promoting the transformation from made in China to intelligent manufacturing in China; second, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, supporting manufacturing enterprises in普及数字化,网络化,智能化, expanding domestic demand in the intelligent manufacturing industry, and supporting the high-quality development of the robotics and intelligent equipment industry; third, increasing efforts to develop domestic industrial software, promoting the普及应用 of industrial software in enterprise manufacturing, and driving the development of digital and intelligent manufacturing industries.
The editor inquired how Risong Technology practices the proposals Sun made at the National Two Sessions with concrete actions.
Sun stated that to form the proposals for this year’s Two Sessions, he conducted extensive market research, discussions, and exchanges long before the sessions. The company visited places like Guangdong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Sichuan, and Shanghai, engaging in in-depth discussions with numerous representative enterprises from the upstream and downstream of the high-end equipment manufacturing industry chain. Regarding the issue of domestic substitution in the application of mid-to-high-end industrial robots, they felt particularly deeply and hoped to propose some insights and methods based on their understanding and perceptions, making every effort to lead and coordinate各方资源力量 to solve industrial problems. Risong Technology has always maintained close ties with domestic industrial robot本体 manufacturers. It also jointly initiated the establishment of the Guangdong Robot Innovation Center (and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Robot Innovation Center) with the Fifth Electronics Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China National Machinery Industry Corporation, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, creating a public service platform and innovation platform to助推机器人技术创新, and打通了技术研究和产业化之间的连接.
- Assisting Shipbuilding Welding and Intelligent Manufacturing Development with Actions
Risong Technology has grown alongside the shipbuilding industry. It is understood that when Chairman Sun Zhiqiang first started the enterprise, his first business order came from the shipbuilding industry. Risong Technology has provided the shipbuilding industry with大量半自动,自动产品, and in recent years, it has introduced advanced technologies and equipment such as robot work systems and stirring friction welding to assist船舶智能制造, using practical actions to help the ship and marine industry achieve high-quality development.
The editor noted that the company’s robots, intelligent equipment, and solutions are widely used in industries such as new energy vehicles, rail transit, aerospace, and heavy machinery. Sun was asked to discuss Risong Technology’s business情况和成果 in the ship and marine field.
Sun explained that they strive to provide the shipbuilding industry with intelligent application services including high-end welding工艺应用, overall solutions for shipyard intelligent manufacturing, welding, grinding, chamfering, assembly, as well as automated control systems, workpiece visual recognition and positioning pre-grinding, robot grinding process experimental development and software development, offline programming, simulation technology, weld tracking and online inspection technology, data processing, welding expert databases, and other IoT technologies. The company has provided overall intelligent manufacturing solutions, high-end intelligent equipment, and robot welding technologies to shipbuilding enterprises such as Guangzhou Shipyard International, Huangpu Wenchong, Xin船重工, and Yinghui Nanfang. It has also assisted Guangzhou Shipyard International in building a welding laboratory. Among these, the robot application project provided to Wenchong Shipyard实现了船用吊环焊接智能化生产 through the use of visual positioning, laser vision acquisition, and tracking systems, possessing strong practicality and推广价值.
The editor asked about the application situation of robot welding assembly production lines in the shipbuilding industry and how Risong Technology will助力船舶智能制造 next.
Sun pointed out that the shipbuilding industry differs from the automotive industry, making流水线作业较难. Therefore, currently, whether it is robot welding assembly production lines or machine vision technology, their application in this field is not extensive. However, the shipbuilding industry has entered the era of intelligent manufacturing, and the推广 of robot intelligent production lines is an inevitable trend. Given time, they are confident in finding better answers. The company will take the manufacturing markets for yachts, cruise ships, and aluminum alloy ships as important entry points,加大力度开发 equipment and technologies that符合船舶制造特点, enabling intelligent production lines to开花结果 in this industry.
- Seizing Opportunities to Reforge Brilliance and Playing a Greater Role in Serving the Greater Bay Area Construction
Risong Technology wholeheartedly践行 the mission of “integrating into the global digitalization process and driving the development of the intelligent manufacturing industry,” committed to becoming a leading enterprise in robotics and intelligent manufacturing. Facing opportunities from the deep integration of new-generation information technology and manufacturing, and the rapid development of robotics and intelligent manufacturing, the company is seeking greater development to contribute new achievements to promoting intelligent manufacturing in China and play an exemplary role in serving the manufacturing industry of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The editor asked in which areas the company will focus its efforts in the future to continue driving the enterprise to become stronger and larger.
Sun stated that the trend of数字化,智能化发展 is unstoppable, and Risong Technology will drive the company’s sustained high-quality development from four aspects. First, deeply挖掘各工业领域的细分应用场景, continuously expanding the intelligent manufacturing需求 of细分行业, and moving toward the strategic goal of providing全方位数字化工厂,智能工厂 solutions. Second, focusing on stirring friction welding equipment,完善产品功能, and creating a world标杆 for lightweight material intelligent manufacturing. Third, based on the standardized industrial software Eaxy Design 2022,推出适应更多细分行业,更多应用场景的专业软件模块. Finally, expanding the market share and技术渗透 of machine vision in new fields to构建完整生态环境 in the future.
The editor inquired about the company’s构想 for assisting the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the future.
Sun emphasized that Risong Technology is rooted in Guangzhou, and its development today benefits from the pioneering spirit of Guangdong as a forefront of reform and opening-up, as well as local government support, especially the重大利好和机遇 brought by the implementation of the Greater Bay Area strategy. The company seized the时机, enjoying policy红利, for which it is always grateful. As a private enterprise, they must solidly strengthen and enlarge the enterprise, continuously achieving new breakthroughs in the fields of robotics and high-end intelligent equipment, which is the company’s真诚回报 to this land. At the same time, they have the responsibility to透彻研究技术, concentrating on various技术攻关, developing more advanced intelligent technologies and high-end intelligent equipment,为大湾区的智能制造插上腾飞的双翅.
星光不问赶路人,精诚所至金石开. The company坚守理想,无畏艰难奋勇前行,谱写了动人的发展之歌. With a spirit of拼搏 and unwavering抱负, Risong Technology will undoubtedly achieve greater development in the future, making更大的作为 and contributing更大力量 to promoting intelligent manufacturing in China!