RECAP | MEWG Company Visit at Kawasaki & Kuka on 13 Sept

On September 13th, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC), in collaboration with its Mechanical and Engineering Working Group (MEWG) and with the support of Kunshan Investment Promotion Co., organized a company visit to Kawasaki and Kuka, bringing together around 50 participants.

Tiziano Sandonini, Vice Coordinator of the Mechanical and Engineering Working Group (MEWG) and Board Member of Santoni (Shanghai) Knitting, opened the event and invited Ms. Yan Hongli, General Manager of Kawasaki Robotics (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., to deliver a warm welcome speech.

As one of Japan's three major heavy industry manufacturing giants, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' products span the fields of air, land, and sea. The company holds world-leading technological expertise in transportation, aerospace, shipbuilding, energy development, and industrial robotics.

Mr. Zhou Jin, Director of the Manufacturing Department at Kawasaki Robotics, highlighted that their factory is at the forefront of the industry in terms of both production equipment and management practices. The facility has essentially achieved digital, paperless, and intelligent management from material sorting to process control, packaging, and shipping. It has also developed a material sorting system and an electronic work system, significantly reducing human error while improving quality and efficiency.

Among the speakers was Mrs. Wu Zhuohui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Kunshan Zhoushi Town, who welcomed all the guests and gave a presentation on Kunshan City, focusing on Zhoushi Town’s economic and cultural aspects, as well as the incentives available for companies.

The morning continued with a factory tour, allowing participants to see Kawasaki's products firsthand.

At the end of the visit, a roundtable discussion was held on the theme "The Role of Advanced Robotics in Modern Industry." The panel included Mr. Francesco Ricca, CFO of Inxpect S.p.A., Mr. Ivan Paderno, Technical Support Manager of Inxpect S.p.A., Mr. Finny Wang, Sales Manager of Kuka China, and Mr. Xu Jin, Technician at Kawasaki Tianjin.

During the discussion, the speakers emphasized the critical importance of safety in the design and use of robotic systems to prevent workplace accidents.

The session also explored the increasing interaction between humans and robots on the production floor, the steps being taken to ensure that this collaboration is both efficient and safe, and the challenges that lie ahead in this area.

After a short break, the delegation visited the Yigongchang Technology & Innovation Industrial Park, part of Kunshan Chuangye Holding Group. Yigongchang is the first cross-industry comprehensive state-owned enterprise in Kunshan City, with three projects located in Zhoushi Town, Qiandeng Town, and Dianshanhu Town.

The day concluded with a visit to the renowned Kuka production site in Kunshan, guided by Mr. Finny Wang, Sales Manager of Kuka China.

Special thanks to Kawasaki and Kuka for hosting us, and to all the participants for joining!

We look forward to seeing you at the next company visit, which will take place in October at Ferrero in Hangzhou. More information will follow shortly.

About Mechanical Engineering Working Group (MEWG)

The MEWG represents the interest of all Italian companies in China working directly or indirectly in the sector on a national base.

MEWG Objectives:

• Coordinate and promote all Italian members’ needs which are active in many different industries of the Chinese mechanical engineering sector (machinery, automotive, component manufacturers, mechanical engineering...);
• Promote and raise awareness of the size and the importance of Italian technology in the sector to all counterparts in China and Italy, in order to develop business opportunities.
• Coordinate and promote activities and events that boost the visibility and the image of “Technology Made in Italy”.
• Become a reference for all mechanical engineering companies within the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce.

Coordinator

• Riccardo Budriesi, CEO at Marposs (Shanghai) Technologies Co., Ltd.

Vice-Coordinators

• Mirko Turrina, General Manager of Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd.
• Tiziano Sandonini, Board Member at Santoni (Shanghai) Knitting Machinery Co., Ltd.
• Ke Da, General Manager of Thermowatt China