KEDA Industrial Group: Driving Transformation in the Building Ceramic Industry through Digital Empowerment

Intelligentization is an effective means for the transformation and upgrading of traditional manufacturing. In the context of deep integration between digital technologies and the real economy, the application of next-generation information technologies, such as AI and big data, to comprehensively upgrade traditional manufacturing industries can significantly enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and core competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

| Digitalization and intelligentization are the inevitable paths for the transformation and upgrading of China's building ceramic industry.

As a vital part of the Chinese economy, the building ceramic industry plays a key role in improving living standards and fulfilling the people's aspirations for a better life. Since the late 20th century, driven by the rapid growth of the real estate sector, China has emerged as the world's largest producer and consumer of building ceramics.

However, the building ceramic industry is now confronted with multiple challenges, including overcapacity, rising costs, weak market demand, and increasingly stringent environmental and energy consumption policies. Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, are facing increasing pressure due to their lack of cost and product differentiation advantages. These challenges highlight the unsustainability of the traditional "volume-driven" growth model, making transformation and upgrading imperative.

In this context, building a digital management platform is essential for building ceramic companies to stay competitive. It helps improve resource utilization, reduce energy consumption, and lower pollution. Additionally, it cuts operational costs and enhances production management through real-time data collection and analysis. By minimizing human errors, digitalization boosts efficiency and improves product quality. This plays a vital role in securing the industry's long-term success.

Mr. Xuexian YANG, General Manager of KEDA Industrial Group, remarked, "Promoting the intelligentization and digitalization of the ceramic industry is not only the responsibility of ceramic machinery manufacturers but also an inevitable choice for the entire industry to achieve high-quality development. Through digital technologies, we aim to enhance the production efficiency, product quality, and market competitiveness of the entire industry, creating greater growth opportunities for ceramic enterprises in the global market."

| Dual Drivers of Specialization and Digitalization Elevate Lean Manufacturing in the Building Ceramic Industry

Accelerating the digital transformation of the building ceramic industry requires leveraging the characteristics of the sector. It's essential to address the specific needs of enterprises and explore practical transformation pathways. Leading companies should take on a guiding role by sharing solutions and technological resources, promoting the collective growth of the entire industry chain.

Due to the specialized and complex nature of ceramic production, generalized digital technologies often fail to meet the practical needs of enterprises. Achieving digital transformation in ceramic manufacturing necessitates a deep understanding of the manufacturing processes, machinery, and technical requirements specific to the industry.

Only when digital systems are seamlessly integrated with a company's management needs, production processes, and machinery can the transformation truly deliver on its promise of reducing costs, improving quality, and enhancing efficiency.

As the world's only complete plant engineering & production supplier, KEDA Industrial Group has been dedicated to the building ceramic machinery manufacturing industry for 30+ years. It offers professional solutions to manufacturers in major ceramic-producing countries, ranging from machinery and parts & consumables to raw material technologies and maintenance services. This wealth of practical experience has given KEDA an in-depth, systematic understanding of the industry's production needs and pain points. This expertise forms a solid foundation for using digital and intelligent solutions to address challenges, improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.

▲KEDA Zhentao MOM System

In 2023, KEDA Industrial Group launched the "Zhentao MOM" system, which integrates advanced ceramic manufacturing technology with digital solutions to provide a comprehensive package. This system covers planning, production, process control, quality, energy consumption, machinery, and data management, building a digital framework for building ceramic factories and laying out a roadmap for smart production and digital operations.

▲Proven digital manufacturing solutions already deployed at customer sites

A well-known ceramic company in Guangdong began using KEDA Industrial Group's Zhentao MOM system in July 2023. "Before the digital transformation, production management relied heavily on experience and manual operations, which were inefficient and prone to errors. With the introduction of the Zhentao MOM system, we can now monitor production data in real-time, identify issues, and resolve them promptly," said the company's financial director.

"After a few months of implementation, our production capacity increased by 10%, the rate of premium-grade products improved by about two percentage points, and energy consumption dropped by 5%." In 2023, this company was awarded the title of "Foshan City Digital and Intelligent Demonstration Factory—Level 3".

▲KEDA Industrial Group unveiled the newly upgraded ZhenTao MOM 3.0 at the 2024 Foshan Uniceramics Expo

Given the high costs, lengthy timelines, and broad scope involved in digital upgrades for the ceramic industry, many companies are opting for a gradual digital transformation, especially in a sluggish market. In response, KEDA Industrial Group offers various levels of digital upgrade services, ranging from "intelligent machinery" to "digital workshops" and "digital factories". Since launching its digital services in 2018, KEDA Industrial Group has been committed to addressing enterprises' most urgent pain points at minimal transformation costs, maximizing the benefits of each upgrade.

| Advanced Manufacturing Combined with Digital and Intelligent Technologies Drives Innovation in Ceramic Production

In the digital transformation of the building ceramic industry, machinery manufacturers have consistently acted as the technological driving force. By introducing intelligent machinery and digital solutions, they provide vital support for ceramic enterprises to enhance precision management, optimize resource allocation, and achieve improvements in quality, cost reduction, and efficiency.

▲KEDA Industrial Group Co., Ltd. collaborates with Hunan Yatai Technology Co., Ltd. to initiate the digital factory project for rock slab

Mr. Qingmin LI, General Manager of KEDA Industrial Group's Ceramic Digital Factory Division, stated: "The success of KEDA's digital solutions stems from our deep understanding of machinery and comprehensive knowledge of ceramic production. Our focus extends beyond the machinery itself—we address the entire production process, designing machinery and systems based on the specific needs of ceramic manufacturers. Through close collaboration, we can create practical solutions that truly elevate manufacturing standards. More importantly, KEDA remains dedicated to the ceramic industry, rooted in a deep respect for it, enabling us to consistently deliver value to our global customers."