Transformative journey

The workers' attention to detail and artistic flair infused into each piece make Qixian's glassware stand out in a highly competitive global market. Yet, amid its allure, there is the twin challenge of limited output and elevated production expenses.

Undeterred, the local industry has embraced the essence of handblown glassware while embarking on a transformative journey, channeling massive investments into advanced production lines.

The glassware industry in Qixian has adopted automation to propel its growth and meet the increasing demands of the market, said Liang Wensheng, marketing director of Shanxi Dahua Glass Industrial Co Ltd.

Liang stressed that cutting-edge technologies and automated processes have streamlined production, enhancing efficiency and ensuring consistent quality.

The company invested 368 million yuan to introduce high-end equipment that employs an intelligent control system. The system characterizes real-time collection and smart analysis of production data throughout the whole link, to help explore new designs and scale up production, Liang added.

Moreover, the company has hired more than 20 researchers and devotes 5 to 8 million yuan annually to research and development, Liang said, noting that the company has set up its own factory to manufacture equipment components.

"We make the machine parts ourselves because importing them from overseas is very inconvenient and time-consuming," Liang said. "We now better understand technology and are able to modify the machinery to better suit the production needs, thanks to the manufacturing experience we have accumulated over the years."

Qixian has also forged alliances with 28 top domestic universities including Tsinghua University, Peking University and Beijing University of Technology, making groundbreaking strides in academia-industry research collaboration, said Hu Xiaofeng, director of the glassware industry development center in Qixian.

The fruits of their labor are evident as they have successfully developed lead-free crystal glass, alongside pioneering 22 intelligent manufacturing equipment, such as automatic stretching machines and laser cutting machines. This has propelled the entire industry toward a digital transformation and fueled growth potential, Hu said.