Editor's Note: New industrialization, characterized by the integration of digital and physical reality and green intelligent manufacturing, is the primary frontier for developing new-quality productivity. As this new industrialization continues to advance, the role of green factories, as the core support units and implementing entities of the green manufacturing system, is becoming increasingly prominent.

On the occasion of the 34th National Energy Conservation Promotion Week, Colorful Guizhou Network, in collaboration with the Guizhou Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, launched the "Guizhou Green Factory Tour" series, highlighting outstanding examples of national and provincial green factories in Guizhou, documenting their practical experiences and stories on the road to becoming "green." The series aims to set a benchmark and guide more industrial enterprises to improve their green factory development and achieve high-quality development.

In the bright and spacious factory, production lines operate in an orderly manner, and finished cables are neatly wound onto neatly arranged spools... In the production workshop of Guizhou Tianhong Zhiyuan Wire and Cable Co., Ltd., workers are busy and methodical at their respective posts.

In the insulation extrusion process, individual cables pass through the machine before being coated with the cable sheath. The sheath is the outer protective layer of the cable, protecting the cable's insulation from mechanical damage and chemical corrosion, allowing the cable to adapt to various operating environments and maintaining long-term stable electrical performance. The temperature of the newly sheathed cable can reach over 100 degrees Celsius, so it needs to be cooled in a tank filled with cooling water. After cooling the cable, the temperature of the cooling water will also rise to around 60 degrees Celsius. To ensure that the cooling water in the tank remains at a constant temperature, tap water must be continuously added.

The bright and spacious factory makes full use of natural light

"Among our over 110 production equipment, more than 20 require cooling water. Previously, this process consumed over 200 tons of water per month. After upgrading the cooling water circulation tanks, this has been reduced to around 50 tons per month," said Liu Zhihua, Deputy General Manager of Production at Guizhou Tianhong Cable. From 2013 to 2015, the company invested one million yuan to build six cooling water circulation tanks and cooling towers, increasing its cooling water storage capacity from 100 tons to 800 tons. Cooling water used on the production line is cooled in the cooling towers and then transferred to the storage tanks for treatment, including sedimentation, before being recycled repeatedly.

"We continue to integrate green, energy-saving, and low-carbon concepts into our development plans and actively promote the development of a green manufacturing system. In addition to installing the cooling water circulation system, we are also upgrading our lighting system. We use translucent panels in the factory to maximize natural light and energy-saving LDEA lamps to achieve energy savings," said Xiao Eryong, Deputy General Manager of Technology at Guizhou Tianhong Cable.

Highlight the concept of ecological environmental protection in the product production process

In corporate production, electricity consumption is a major cost and a key focus of energy conservation and consumption reduction efforts. "Before 2021, we invested over 3 million yuan to replace our motors with energy-efficient ones. Previously, our monthly electricity consumption reached a peak of 450,000 kWh. After the energy-saving motor upgrade, our monthly electricity consumption has now fallen below 350,000 kWh," Liu Zhihua told reporters. Previously, the motors used in the workshop had a fixed power rating. Regardless of the cable size, the motors used maximum power, resulting in high power consumption. Using such motors to produce smaller cables was like overkill. Now, energy-saving motors can automatically adjust their power based on production needs, effectively saving energy.

Lighting system upgrades, replacement of inefficient motors, and cooling water recycling—a series of these projects have accelerated Guizhou Tianhong Cable's production and contributed to energy conservation efforts. Guizhou Tianhong Cable continuously improves its production technology, emphasizes ecological and environmental protection concepts in the selection of raw materials and product production, takes intelligent manufacturing and green production as its goal, and creates intelligent modern green factories through technological innovation and process innovation. The company's high, medium and low voltage power cables, new energy cables, fire-proof cables and other products cover the energy, transportation and engineering fields, and the products are sold to Henan, Chongqing, Gansu, Henan and other places. The company has been certified as a first-level material supplier for the State Grid and the Southern Power Grid, and has won the title of "High-tech Enterprise" for nine consecutive years.

Awarded "Provincial Green Factory"

In 2021, Guizhou Tianhong Cable was named a "Provincial Green Factory." In 2022, it was awarded the Guizhou Provincial titles of "Specialized, Advanced, and Innovative," "Intellectual Property Advantage Enterprise," and "Provincial Enterprise Technology Center." In 2023, it was recognized as a National "Little Giant" Enterprise for Specialized, Advanced, and Innovative Enterprises.

"Practicing green production is an enterprise's inherent responsibility and a necessary path to achieving sustainable development." Xiao Eryong stated that Guizhou Tianhong Cable will continue to improve its green manufacturing system, transforming the "green content" of energy conservation and carbon reduction into the "gold content" of corporate development, and embarking on a path of green, low-carbon, and high-quality development.

Source: Colorful Guizhou Net·Zhongwang News

Editor: Li Yilin
Reviewer: Luo Silong