Midea’s AI-powered Lighthouse Factory Drives Green Manufacturing In Asia-Pacific
By Ng Che Yean
CHONGQING, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Midea’s Chongqing Chiller Factory, the world’s first fully AI-powered chiller “lighthouse factory”, is spearheading smart and green manufacturing across the Asia-Pacific and helping global partners achieve low-carbon transformation.
Recognised by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey in 2024, it has become a global model of innovation by combining AI (artificial intelligence), digital twin systems and zero-carbon practices to boost efficiency while cutting costs and emissions.
Sam Luo, the General Manager of MBT’s Chiller Product Company, said lighthouse factories represent the industry’s highest level of development and serve as global role models in smart manufacturing.
“Our innovation efforts cover the entire process - from client engagement to production, after-sales support, R&D (research and development), smart manufacturing and digital applications.
“Only after achieving innovation across all these areas can we qualify for Lighthouse Factory certification,” he said.
GREEN INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Since its establishment in 2004, the Chongqing chiller factory has consistently overcome technical barriers through continuous innovation, ranking among the top tier in the central air conditioning industry for 12 consecutive years.
Leading the adoption of green and digital transformation since 2022, the factory has set a new benchmark for smart manufacturing.
“I found the additional RMB150 million investment to drive the transformation worthwhile, because it doubled business growth without increasing employees,” Luo told delegates of the Asia-Pacific media tour, which included the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
He added that production involved micron-level precision - up to 1/60 the thickness of a human hair - and with the integration of AI, automation and eco-friendly practices, smart and green manufacturing is becoming a key competitive edge.
Midea has since secured the top share of China’s chiller market, with magnetic centrifugal chiller sales rising by 150 percent in the first half of this year despite a 15 percent market decline.
AI + ZERO-CARBON MANUFACTURING: A MODEL FOR ASIA-PACIFIC
Luo said the factory also represents the highest level of green manufacturing in China, achieving zero-carbon operations through renewable energy, eco-friendly materials and high-efficiency systems, while generating 40 percent of its electricity needs and earning PAS 2060 carbon-neutral certification.
At its core is an “AI + digital twin” system that links R&D, production and after-sales, while smart upgrades in workshops have lifted efficiency and reduced costs.
The media group also visited a Yangtze River project where MBT deployed clean-energy and smart-control solutions to achieve full renewable energy use, highlighting how its technologies are supporting greener urban development.
LOCALISATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Meanwhile, General Manager of MBT Asia-Pacific, Taufiq Lee, said Midea is accelerating its smart manufacturing footprint across Southeast Asia.
“Challenges such as supply chain digitalisation and skilled talent shortages remain, but our experience with digital scheduling and robotic quality control in Thailand and other markets gives us the foundation to scale locally,” he said.
He added that Southeast Asia holds strong growth potential as demand for energy-efficient solutions rises with both market and policy support.
To meet local needs, Midea is partnering with green building councils, universities and research institutes, while R&D and training centres in Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore are enabling climate-specific innovation and talent development.
Midea has also introduced the Magboost Apex, a second-generation magnetic centrifugal chiller that consumes 25 percent less energy than conventional units, helping large projects in the region cut costs and carbon emissions.
-- BERNAMA