Original Title: Notice on Issuing the Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Upgrades in the Industrial Sector of Wuhu City
In accordance with the "Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Upgrades in the Industrial Sector of Anhui Province" and in light of the actual conditions of our city, the following implementation plan is hereby formulated to accelerate the large-scale equipment upgrades in the city’s industrial sector.
I. Overall Objectives
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, this plan focuses on promoting large-scale equipment renewal in the industrial sector. It aims to vigorously advance a new round of technological upgrades and digital transformation in manufacturing, accelerate the development of new productive forces, and expedite the construction of a new industrialization model to build a “City of Intelligent Manufacturing,” thereby providing strong support for the comprehensive development of Wuhu as a sub-provincial center city.
By 2027, we aim to create 10 provincial-level model demonstration projects for digital transformation annually, cultivate 20 provincial-level smart factories and digital workshops, implement over 150 key technical renovation projects worth 100 million yuan or more, achieve an average annual growth rate of over 10% in technical renovation investment, and increase the scale of equipment investment in the industrial sector by over 25% compared to 2023;The adoption rate of digital R&D and design tools and the CNC utilization rate for key production processes among industrial enterprises above designated size will exceed 90% and 75%, respectively, achieving full coverage of digital transformation for all such enterprises; production capacity in key industries that falls below energy efficiency benchmarks will be largely phased out, energy-consuming equipment will generally meet energy-saving standards, and intrinsic safety levels will be significantly improved.
II. Key Tasks
(I) Strengthening Supply Capabilities
1. Enhance the R&D and supply capabilities of high-end equipment. Achieve breakthroughs in a range of key technologies and major equipment. Encourage enterprises in the high-end equipment sector to intensify efforts in tackling key technological challenges. Annually implement a rolling list of provincial projects aimed at addressing shortcomings in products and key technologies through open competition, thereby continuously enhancing core competitiveness.Guide enterprises to develop products by benchmarking against the “Three Firsts” product development demand list, expand the promotion and application of the first (set) of major technical equipment, regularly update Wuhu City’s online “Three Firsts” product gallery, and actively utilize platforms such as the Wuhu Industrial Internet Comprehensive Service Platform and Wuhu Easy Enterprise Network to strengthen supply-demand matching.Vigorously develop the high-end equipment industry. Accelerate the growth of key equipment sectors, including robotics and intelligent equipment in Jiujiang District, rail transit equipment in the Economic and Technological Development Zone, modern agricultural machinery in Sanshan District, aviation equipment in Wanji District, additive manufacturing equipment in Fanchang District, and express logistics equipment in Nanling County. Accelerate the integration and application of next-generation information technologies such as 5G, industrial internet, big data, and artificial intelligence. Focusing on the needs of the ten emerging industries, improve equipment technology and intelligence levels to enhance the supply capacity of high-end equipment.Prioritize the development of the robotics industry. Leverage the agglomeration advantages of the national-level robotics industrial cluster to accelerate the development and mass production of new types of industrial robots, such as those with autonomous programming capabilities, human-robot collaboration, and heavy-duty AGVs. Develop special-purpose service robots for firefighting, rescue, and medical applications, and mass-produce consumer service robots for household tasks, entertainment, and leisure to meet the rapidly growing demand for robots.
2. Enhance software system R&D and service capabilities. Increase the supply of industrial software products. By identifying the needs of industrial enterprises across R&D and design, production control, business management, and operation and maintenance services, we will help enterprises precisely identify the products they require and improve the efficiency of integrated hardware and software upgrades.Promote the cultivation of first-version software, accelerate breakthroughs in key technologies and product R&D innovation, enhance the reliability, stability, and consistency of industrial software, and expedite the development of a range of mature and usable industrial software products. Accelerate the development of future high-end software products by creating industry-specific application software to meet the needs of sectors such as automotive, photovoltaic storage, equipment manufacturing, aerospace, and low-altitude aviation; and by developing industrial control security software and data security software for key areas like equipment control and data transactions, thereby achieving the integration of industrial production systems with security systems.
(2) Intensify Equipment Upgrades
3. Upgrade and modernize high-end advanced equipment. Support industries such as machinery, steel, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, textiles, and building materials in accelerating the phasing out of outdated, inefficient equipment and obsolete equipment that has exceeded its service life. Prioritize the renewal of production lines and technical equipment with outdated processes that have been in service for over 10 years in the machinery industry, and over 20 years in the steel and non-ferrous metals industries.Encourage industries such as automotive, home appliances, electronics, aviation, photovoltaics, and power batteries to upgrade to advanced equipment characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high reliability. Prioritize the development of final assembly and integration capabilities, as well as supply chain support capabilities, in industries such as automotive, aviation, and photovoltaics.
4. Upgrade testing and inspection equipment. In key industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, and electronics, a batch of advanced equipment will be updated to enhance engineering and industrialization capabilities, focusing on intermediate-scale verification (including design, testing, and process verification) and inspection and testing phases. Priority will be given to updating advanced equipment in the design verification phase, such as model manufacturing equipment and experimental analysis instruments; in the testing verification phase, updating testing instruments for mechanical, optical, and environmental testing;in the process validation phase, update specialized testing equipment for environmental adaptability testing, reliability testing, process validation testing, and safety compliance testing, as well as sample preparation and pilot production equipment for specialized sample preparation, material processing, electronic assembly, and mechanical processing; in the inspection and testing phase, update instruments and equipment for electronic measurement, non-destructive testing, and intelligent detection.
(3) Promoting "Intelligent Transformation and Digital Upgrade"
5. Promote the application of smart manufacturing equipment. Focusing on the transformation of production operations, warehousing and logistics, and quality control, and driven by the adoption of leading enterprises, promote the upgrade of general-purpose smart manufacturing equipment, including CNC machine tools and basic manufacturing equipment, additive manufacturing equipment, industrial robots, industrial control equipment, smart logistics equipment, and sensing and detection equipment.Priority will be given to updating industry-specific intelligent production lines and flexible production units in sectors such as automotive and photovoltaics; updating packaging and testing equipment in the integrated circuit industry; updating specialized equipment for cleaning, lamination, cutting, and handling in the new display industry; and updating new intelligent equipment such as unmanned transport vehicles, inspection robots, and intelligent detection equipment in raw material industries including steel, glass, cement, and chemicals. In the consumer goods manufacturing sector, intelligent equipment supporting new production models such as flexible manufacturing and personalized customization will be promoted.
6. Promote enterprise digital transformation in a tiered manner.Encourage the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Throughout the entire business operation process—including design, production, service, and management—promote the use of software service packages and unit-level smart manufacturing solutions for small, medium, and micro manufacturing enterprises in areas such as digital product design and simulation, intelligent workshop scheduling, advanced process control, real-time material tracking, intelligent online inspection, predictive equipment maintenance, smart warehousing, customer relationship management, and lean management. Create a batch of replicable, low-cost digital transformation demonstration projects and application scenarios tailored to specific industries.Build smart factories and digital workshops. Accelerate the deep integration of next-generation information technologies with all stages and elements of the manufacturing process, and promote breakthroughs in manufacturing technology, process innovation, lean management, and business process reengineering. Promote the deep application of new technologies such as the Industrial Internet, big data, 5G, artificial intelligence, and edge computing in manufacturing operations, and establish a range of typical scenarios including virtual testing and debugging, digital process design, and intelligent online inspection.Promote the interconnection of equipment and digital integration across production stages to achieve seamless production data flow, flexible manufacturing, and intelligent management, thereby building digital workshops. Carry out intelligent upgrades across the entire manufacturing process—including production, management, and services—to optimize organizational structures and business processes, and build smart factories. Fully leverage the role of the Industrial Internet identifier resolution system to guide leading enterprises in driving chain-based transformation of upstream and downstream enterprises, thereby building smart supply chains.
7. Promote comprehensive regional digital transformation. Support leading enterprises in implementing digital transformation demonstration projects; cultivate a group of provincial-level “Digital Pioneers” across various industries; guide leading enterprises to empower upstream and downstream industrial chains; transform digital transformation experience into standardized solutions for dissemination to enterprises throughout the industrial chain; and drive accelerated transformation across the entire industrial chain. Focusing on “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises, create a group of provincial-level SME digital transformation models and organize enterprises to “observe and learn from these examples.”Promote the comprehensive transformation of industrial parks. Encourage parks to create “one park, one industry, one model” initiatives centered on their dominant industries, identify and address common challenges and application scenarios, and rapidly replicate and scale these solutions within the parks and clusters. Accelerate regional resource sharing by supporting new models such as central factories, collaborative manufacturing, shared manufacturing, crowdsourcing and crowd-creation, and centralized procurement and sales, thereby enhancing the level of sharing and collaboration among regional manufacturing and innovation resources.
8. Improve the development of the industrial internet platform system. Focusing on key industries such as automobiles, home appliances, and building materials, encourage industrial enterprises to utilize new technologies like 5G to upgrade their internal and external networks, thereby strengthening the industrial internet infrastructure. Support leading manufacturers, outstanding service providers, and industrial parks in establishing industrial internet platforms; guide various platforms to actively integrate into the province’s industrial internet platform service system; promote resource sharing and business collaboration; explore the development and application of industry-specific models; and enhance the platforms’ capacity to empower enterprises.Promote the coordinated development of industrial internet platforms and second-level nodes for identifier resolution, and support enterprises in exploring integrated applications and innovative models for identifier resolution nodes. Relying on service platforms such as industrial internet innovation centers, experience centers, laboratories, and training (practical training) bases, strengthen on-site training and supply-demand matching to facilitate the effective implementation of digital application scenarios. Continuously optimize the municipal-level service provider resource pool, support service providers in applying for the provincial-level resource pool, and prioritize the cultivation of a group of general contractors with integrated service capabilities.
(IV) Building a Green Manufacturing System
9. Accelerate the green retrofitting of production equipment. Promote the application of energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and green equipment in key energy-intensive industries and critical production stages; popularize advanced clean production technologies—including those for energy, water, and material conservation, as well as comprehensive resource utilization—to continuously reduce pollutant emissions. In the raw materials sector, encourage enterprises to upgrade equipment to enhance green manufacturing standards; advance the green retrofitting of production equipment; and promote resource-saving, environmentally friendly, and production-safe green processes, technologies, and equipment.The steel industry will accelerate ultra-low emission retrofits across the entire production process, including existing blast furnaces, converters, and electric furnaces, and strive to achieve Grade A environmental performance. The building materials industry will focus on reducing pollution and carbon emissions, as well as saving energy and reducing consumption in existing sectors such as cement and glass, by upgrading equipment and technologies related to raw material preparation, furnace control, and powder crushing. The non-ferrous metals industry will accelerate the renewal and retrofitting of green, efficient, and environmentally friendly equipment, such as those used in recycled metal smelting.The shipbuilding industry will vigorously develop green shipbuilding and repair processes, phase out open-air sandblasting rust removal processes without protective measures, and comprehensively promote the use of green rust removal technologies and equipment such as ultra-high-pressure water jetting.
10. Promote energy efficiency upgrades for key energy-consuming equipment. Focusing on key energy-consuming industries and sectors within the region, strengthen energy efficiency benchmarking, with particular reference to the *Advanced, Energy-Saving, and Access Levels for Key Energy-Consuming Products and Equipment (2024 Edition)*, to guide enterprises in adopting energy-saving equipment rated at Level 2 or higher. Promote the upgrading of key energy-consuming equipment such as boilers, motors, transformers,refrigeration and heating equipment, air compressors, fans, and pumps; expand the proportion of electrified end-use energy equipment; and increase the share of high-efficiency energy-saving equipment in operation. Conduct special inspections on the implementation of mandatory energy efficiency standards for products and equipment such as motors, fans, air compressors, pumps, and transformers; urge and guide enterprises to accelerate the replacement of inefficient equipment; and, in conjunction with relevant departments, phase out outdated mechanical and electrical equipment within a specified timeframe.
11. Accelerate the adoption of solid waste treatment and water-saving equipment. Focusing on industries such as steel, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, light industry, and textiles, and in accordance with the *Implementation Plan for Comprehensive Utilization of Industrial Resources* and the *National Catalog of Advanced and Applicable Process Technologies and Equipment for Comprehensive Utilization of Industrial Resources*, guide enterprises to adopt advanced processes, upgrade and retrofit processes that generate high volumes of industrial solid waste, and promote the reduction of industrial solid waste at the source.Support enterprises in enhancing the high-value utilization of industrial solid waste in the production of ultra-fine fillers, low-carbon cement, high-performance concrete based on solid waste, precast components, and energy-efficient building materials. Upgrade equipment and facilities for the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste to improve the level of resource conservation and intensive utilization in industry.Focusing on the renewal of processes and equipment in industries for the comprehensive utilization of renewable resources—such as scrap steel and spent power batteries from new energy vehicles—we will cultivate a group of standardized enterprises engaged in the processing and utilization of scrap steel, waste plastics, and spent power batteries from new energy vehicles, thereby enhancing the supply capacity of strategically scarce resources.Implement the "Action Plan for Improving Industrial Water Efficiency." For industries such as chemicals, steel, building materials, textiles, papermaking, and food—where national standards for water withdrawal and usage quotas have already been established—actively guide industrial enterprises to undertake upgrades for water conservation and wastewater recycling, and replace equipment such as cooling towers.
(5) Enhancing Intrinsic Safety Levels
12. Promote the application of safe process technologies and safety equipment. Launch a special campaign to upgrade outdated facilities in the raw materials industry. Conduct a comprehensive inventory of existing outdated facilities, establish a list of outdated facilities and proposed upgrade projects, and promote the use of new technologies, equipment, and processes. Upgrade a batch of high-risk, low-automation, low-end, and inefficient outdated facilities to continuously improve the inherent safety level of the industry’s equipment and facilities.Strengthen the promotion and application of safety technologies and equipment in the civil explosives industry, and encourage the construction of smart warehousing projects. Promote a range of safety and emergency response equipment with advanced technical capabilities and proven effectiveness. Based on Anhui Province’s Safety and Emergency Response Product Database, encourage the selection of suitable safety and emergency response products in fields such as emergency response, firefighting and rescue, and disaster prevention and mitigation.
III. Support Measures
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Fully leverage the coordinating role of Wuhu City’s Special Task Force for Promoting Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Trade-In, and establish a joint promotion mechanism. Focus on task objectives, clarify responsibilities for all parties, implement closed-loop management, coordinate the resolution of major issues arising during implementation, and promptly report progress to the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.
(2) Increase Policy Support. Fully leverage national policies to ensure eligible equipment renewal projects are included in the scope of central government financial support; actively seek policy funding support from provincial initiatives such as the “Manufacturing Power Province,” emerging industries, and SME development programs. Strengthen municipal policy support by revising and issuing the “Several Policies on Wuhu’s Fiscal Support for the Smart Manufacturing City,” and include software purchases within the scope of equipment purchase subsidies for technical renovation projects.Strengthen financial support by actively seeking special re-lending support for scientific and technological innovation and technical renovation to reduce enterprises’ financing costs. Organize bank-enterprise matching events to expand financing channels for equipment renewal and technical renovation projects.
(3) Facilitate Supply-Demand Matching. Conduct in-depth surveys of enterprises’ equipment needs and supply capabilities to establish the “Wuhu City Directory of Equipment (Product) Suppliers in Key Sectors” and the “Demand List for Large-Scale Equipment Upgrade Projects.” Utilize various formats—such as matchmaking conferences, on-site meetings, and online platform announcements—to organize supply-demand matching for equipment upgrades by industry and category, promote the city’s high-quality industrial products and equipment, and further increase the market share of competitive products.Make full use of cooperation and exchange platforms such as the World Manufacturing Conference to broaden supply-demand matching channels, support enterprises in expanding into diversified markets, and accelerate the release of advanced production capacity.
(4) Foster a Favorable Environment. Vigorously publicize policies related to equipment renewal and upgrading to increase awareness and create a supportive social atmosphere. Issue the “Wuhu City Action Plan for Accelerating Industrial Growth and Enhancing Efficiency,” and provide policy interpretation through training sessions and on-site visits to enterprises to ensure policies reach businesses promptly. Strengthen support for key factors in enterprise technical transformation projects—including land, energy, and talent—streamline preliminary approval procedures, boost enterprises’ enthusiasm for implementing equipment renewal and upgrading, and further stimulate market vitality.
