On June 22, the World Economic Forum released the latest batch of Global         Lighthouse Factory list. CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base was         successfully selected. It is the first Lighthouse Factory within CIMC Group, as         well as the world’s inaugural Lighthouse Factory in the container industry.

This milestone marks a major breakthrough for CIMC in intelligent         manufacturing. It also signals that CIMC will deliver more efficient and         reliable cold chain equipment to meet global trade and people’s livelihood         demands worldwide.

(CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base receives the         Global Lighthouse Factory trophy)

The "Lighthouse Factory" designation is regarded as the global benchmark for         digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing upgrades in the         manufacturing sector. Jointly initiated by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey         & Company, the programme selects advanced manufacturers that have been the         first to deploy Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies at scale and have         achieved measurable economic benefits and operational transformation. To date,         there are only 238 Lighthouse Factories worldwide.

Kiva Allgood, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, stated that the         latest cohort of Lighthouse Factories demonstrates how intelligence can be         deeply embedded into every aspect of operations, enabling companies to respond         faster, learn continuously, and achieve higher levels of performance across the         entire value chain.

The World Economic Forum cited the following in its official selection         commentary on CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base: "Increasing volatility         in global trade, along with higher requirements for thermal insulation         performance and product durability, has posed challenges to conventional         manufacturing models for reefer containers in global cold-chain logistics. By         deploying over 50 digital applications and AI-driven solutions to optimise         resource allocation and production processes, the factory has reduced its         manufacturing cycle by 32% and cut defect rates by 47%."

Behind these figures lies a profound manufacturing system transformation at         CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base — a transition from experience-driven         to data-driven operations, and from standalone machine optimisation to         system-wide collaboration. This has made reefer container manufacturing more         efficient and quality more consistent, ensuring that fresh food, pharmaceutical         products, and essential goods reach their destinations more safely and         reliably.

CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base is a microcosm of CIMC's sustained         commitment to implementing its technology and innovation strategy. Pan Jinjie,         CIO of CIMC Group, noted that in recent years, CIMC has centred its development         around the "Digital and Intelligent CIMC" initiative, promoting the application         of digital technology, intelligent equipment, the Industrial Internet,         artificial intelligence, and green manufacturing across an expanding range of         scenarios. CIMC has been building a cluster of world-champion products, and         those products require advanced production lines to underpin and safeguard their         quality. To date, CIMC has established one National Intelligent Manufacturing         Demonstration Factory, two National Excellence-Grade Smart Factories, and eight         National 5G Factories. Advanced manufacturing capability is becoming a new         driver of CIMC's high-quality development. The designation of CIMC Qingdao         Refrigeration Industrial Baser as a Global Lighthouse Factory will further         accelerate CIMC's effort to disseminate its digital and intelligent         manufacturing experience across more business scenarios, continuously elevating         the Group's advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Nian Junlai, Vice President of CIMC Container Group and General Manager of         CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration Industrial Base, stated that CIMC Qingdao         Refrigeration Industrial Base would treat its Lighthouse Factory designation as         a new starting point to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence,         intelligent manufacturing, and automation technologies. The factory will         leverage the lighthouse's exemplary and catalytic role to propel global         container manufacturing towards a higher standard.

From a single reefer container, CIMC connects global trade and serves         countless lives. Leveraging technological innovation to enhance equipment         manufacturing and service capabilities, and ensuring that more essential goods         reach their destinations safely and reliably — this is a vivid embodiment of         CIMC's mission to "Drive a Better World."

Source: CIMC Group Official Release