In a boxing ring, tiny “boxers” throw punches to compete and defend their glory; a female humanoid intelligent robot with chestnut shoulder-length hair and exquisite makeup mimics human expressions with a “wink”; a humanoid robot dressed in a traffic police uniform can not only stand on a sentry platform to direct traffic, but also twist its waist and deliver a spinning high kick… In recent days, Nanjing International Expo Center has been bustling with activity, where a variety of new technologies and achievements in smart manufacturing have attracted the attention of numerous visitors. Among the diverse exhibits, advanced intelligent manufacturing equipment for the medical field also made a striking appearance, such as the fully automated Biological Indicator Assembly Machine, which demonstrated the precision and efficiency of smart technology in critical medical component production.
From November 27 to 29, 2025, the 2025 World Smart Manufacturing Expo (hereinafter referred to as the “Expo”) was held in Nanjing with great fanfare. Ranging from humanoid robots and advanced manufacturing equipment to digital solutions and innovative applications of artificial intelligence, a batch of cutting-edge achievements in smart manufacturing have continuously broken through the limitations of factory scenarios and stepped into the public eye.
A Gathering of Exhibitors: Famous Enterprises Converge to Showcase Cutting-Edge Smart Manufacturing Achievements
Covering a total area of 55,000 square meters, the 2025 World Smart Manufacturing Expo set up four exhibition halls: Robotics, Smart Factory, Industrial Software & System Solutions, and Smart Equipment. A total of 456 enterprises from 21 countries and regions including Germany, the United States, Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands participated in the exhibition, presenting more than 2,000 cutting-edge achievements in the field of smart manufacturing.
Domestic and foreign industrial robot and embodied intelligent robot enterprises such as KUKA, Hyundai, Unitree Technology, DeepMotion, and Estun focused on humanoid robots, embodied intelligent robots, and industrial robots to bring their latest achievements, collectively demonstrating the extensive application and in-depth integration of robot technology in the field of smart manufacturing. The first batch of leading smart factories including Nanjing Iron and Steel, XCMG, Hikvision, Zoomlion, Weichai Power, Haier, and SAIC-GM-Wuling showcased the latest solutions and practical cases for smart factory construction across multiple links such as automated production lines, digital workshops, and smart logistics. China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, Tesla, BYD and other enterprises focused on industrial software and system solutions, highlighting the domestic industrial software ecosystem and smart manufacturing system solutions to help enterprises achieve digital transformation and intelligent upgrading. Rise Information, Dali CNC, Ningqing Aerospace Equipment, Winoc Intelligent Manufacturing and other companies brought cutting-edge technologies in smart equipment, among which specialized equipment like the Biological Indicator Assembly Machine stood out, integrating machine vision and precision robotic arms to realize automatic feeding, assembly and quality inspection of biological indicators, providing strong support for the standardized production of medical supplies.
This Expo also set up an international exhibition area for the first time. International smart manufacturing enterprises such as Phoenix Contact, Honeywell, Dassault, and Festo brought world-leading smart manufacturing technologies and solutions, and carried out supply and demand matching, further promoting the exchange and application of internationally advanced technologies in China. Some international medical equipment manufacturers also expressed strong interest in the domestic Biological Indicator Assembly Machine, initiating in-depth discussions on technical cooperation and market expansion.
On-Site Spectacle: Crowds Surge, Interactive Experiences Ignite the Venue
In front of Unitree Technology’s booth, on a small boxing ring, two small and flexible robots were engaged in an intense battle, throwing punches quickly and dodging nimbly, drawing cheers from the surrounding audience. This is a vivid portrayal of the bustling and lively atmosphere at this Expo.
According to statistics, the three-day Expo attracted visitors from nearly 50 countries and regions around the world, with a total attendance of nearly 70,000 person-times, including more than 40 batches of visitors such as students and procurement groups, and over 200 professional visitor groups.
From November 27 to 29, more than 2,000 college students from nearly 20 universities including Nanjing University, Southeast University, and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as nearly 3,000 primary and secondary school students, successively entered the exhibition halls. Under the professional guidance of staff, they wandered through various themed exhibition halls, experiencing everything from talking intelligent robots and autonomous navigation logistics robots to digital factory scenario simulations and interesting AI demonstrations. The Biological Indicator Assembly Machine booth also attracted many professional visitors and students, who watched the equipment’s automatic operation process and listened to the introduction of its application in medical quality control, deepening their understanding of smart manufacturing’s value in the medical and health field. These cutting-edge achievements allowed the students to fully experience the unique charm of smart manufacturing through immersive experiences and personally witness the amazing transformation of technology from the laboratory to practical applications.
The interactive experience area was also packed with people. Long queues formed in front of various intelligent devices, including China’s first all-wheel steering and all-wheel drive flying car with a four-axis eight-propeller configuration independently developed by Southeast University’s research team, the “Ningjitcui Treasure” robot space capsule (which integrates a semi-humanoid robot and a modular space capsule core architecture to create a robotic “canteen”), as well as unmanned coffee machines, unmanned floor sweepers, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Visitors queued up eagerly to experience the convenience and novelty brought by technology.
The Expo also attracted the attention of major mainstream and professional media. Central media such as People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, China News Service, Science and Technology Daily, People’s Network, Xinhua Network, and CNRI, as well as provincial and municipal mainstream media including Xinhua Daily, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, Modern Express, Yangtze Evening News, Nanjing Morning Post, Jiaohuadian, Nanjing Daily, Nanjing TV Station, Longhu Network, and Zijinshan News, all went deep into the exhibition site to conduct comprehensive and multi-angle reports. Overseas promotion platforms such as “Here is Nanjing”, “iNanjing”, and “Discover Nanjing” accurately reached global audiences. According to statistics, during the Expo, more than 20 mainstream media and over 30 professional media released relevant reports, with a total online exposure exceeding 700 million times. Diverse communication forms such as manuscripts, posters, infographics, short videos, and live broadcasts accurately reached the target audience, maximizing the communication coverage and influence of the Expo.
Supply and Demand Matching: Booming Purchase and Sale, Driving Industrial Exchange and Cooperation
As an important window for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the global smart manufacturing field, the 2025 World Smart Manufacturing Expo not only showcased the latest global achievements in smart manufacturing, but also served as an important force for driving supply and demand matching and industrial cooperation.
On November 27, 59 overseas enterprises from 35 countries and regions including Germany, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Russia, India, and Pakistan entered Nanjing International Expo Center to hold face-to-face negotiations with Expo exhibitors with procurement needs. Multiple enterprises reached preliminary intentional procurement orders on-site, with a total amount of 60 million yuan, effectively injecting strong momentum into enterprises to expand international markets and deepen cross-border cooperation. Among the cooperative intentions, there were also preliminary agreements on the export of Biological Indicator Assembly Machine and related technical services, reflecting the international recognition of domestic smart manufacturing equipment in the medical field.
During the Expo, a total of 41 events were held, including achievement displays, roadshows, press conferences, supply and demand matching, thematic meetings, and interactive experiences. Key events such as the Financial and Industrial Cooperation Seminar, the Seminar on AI Empowering the High-Quality Development of Manufacturing, the Seminar on the Digital Transformation and Development of Manufacturing, the Exchange Conference on Welding Robot Technology and Applications, and the Seminar on Exploring New Paths for the Collaborative Development of Smart Logistics and Smart Manufacturing were held in sequence. These events covered core topics such as digital transformation paths and the construction of industrial intelligent agent ecosystems, accurately addressing the pain points and future trends of industry development.
Currently, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is restructuring the global innovation landscape and reshaping the global economic structure. As a market-oriented exhibition held concurrently with the World Smart Manufacturing Conference, this Expo is driving exchanges and cooperation in the global smart manufacturing field to a deeper level and broader scope with an open and inclusive attitude, contributing Nanjing’s strength to China’s acceleration of building a modern industrial system.
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