Advanced technology on show at city fair

Dong Jun / SHINE

Innovation, advanced technology and AI-featured products, including touch-less medical devices and industrial robots, will be on show at the 22nd China International Industry Fair in Shanghai when it opens on Tuesday.

The industrial fair is probably the biggest of its kind this year, organizers said on Monday, with similar events canceled, delayed or moved online because of COVID-19.

Exhibitors, including Shanghai Electric, Midea, ABB and an Italian pavilion, will showcase their results in pandemic control and economic recovery and upgrading using smart manufacture and artificial intelligence technologies.

More than 2,000 exhibitors are registered for the event, with a total exhibition area of 245,000 square meters, covering industrial automation, advanced equipment, artificial intelligence, robotics, electronic information, bio-medicine, medical equipment, software, environmental protection, new energy and new materials.

A special booth will focus on the fight against COVID-19, with products such as protective masks and medical devices.

A touch-less CT scanner, which is used in mobile hospitals, will be on display. Developed by Shanghai-based United Imaging, it’s China’s first AI CT device with intelligent and touch-less features, which will improve efficiency and “greatly reduce infection risks for frontline doctors,” an engineer from the firm told Shanghai Daily. 

Another CT machine which can be moved easily and quickly, is displayed in the booth of Shanghai Electric, as a part of its smart health-care ecosystem. 

Midea, with its Kuka robot business, cloud services and smart manufacture and supply chain systems, is attending the fair for the first time. The Shenzhen-listed firm has the biggest exhibition booth at the event. 

The company will show new robot products and introduce a new innovation park in Shanghai to open in 2024. The park is costing 6 billion yuan (US$882.3 million) and will recruit 8,000 to 10,000 people.

For the first time, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering will bring their research achievements to the event with, so far, 212 achievements set to go on display. 

To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, there will be an Italian Pavilion covering more than 1,200 square meters. It will open on Tuesday to display the latest technology and quality products from Italian enterprises, such as Maserati.

Visitors to the event will have to show their health code and have their temperature checked. In the halls, face masks are required.

The fair comprises nine theme shows, and this year will launch an online event to attract more visitors by using virtual technology and 5G livestreaming.

With a theme of “Intelligence, Interconnection  — Empowering New Development of Industry”, the fair will run from Tuesday to Saturday at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai).