Qingdao is accelerating the transformation of its traditional manufacturing industries through AI, advanced materials, and greener production technologies, building new strengths in high-end manufacturing.

The city produces nearly 70 million home appliances annually, accounting for roughly one in every 10 made in China, with local manufacturers increasingly shifting their focus from production scale to technological innovation and higher-value products.

Haier Smart Home is integrating AI into household appliances and developing robots for domestic tasks, while tire manufacturer Sailun Group is advancing new materials designed to improve fuel efficiency, grip, and durability.

In the textile industry, Jifa Group has adopted waterless dyeing technology using supercritical carbon dioxide, cutting dyeing time from 8 to 12 hours to under 3 hours. The technology is expected to save more than 200,000 metric tons of water annually.

Established industries are also helping emerging technologies find practical applications. COSMOPlat's Tianzhi industrial AI model has been deployed in 45 scenarios across nine industries, including home appliances, energy, and petrochemicals.

Qingdao manufacturers are also expanding globally, with Haier and Sailun strengthening overseas production networks and Nestle and Luckin Coffee investing in local manufacturing facilities.

These developments highlight Qingdao's efforts to turn its established industrial strengths into new sources of innovation and global competitiveness.