Hebei Ruitong Carbon Showcases Digital Intelligence Empowerment at Handan Industrial Observation Conference 

Intelligent Empowerment Driving Graphite Electrode Manufacturing Upgrade

In response to the global wave of digital transformation in manufacturing, Ruitong Carbon has proactively adopted industrial internet and artificial intelligence technologies to establish a data-driven intelligent manufacturing system. Given the complex processes and strict quality requirements in high-end graphite electrode production, the company has deployed an intelligent production scheduling system, an equipment health monitoring platform, and AI-based quality inspection technology. These innovations have significantly enhanced both production efficiency and product quality.

1.Intelligent Production Scheduling System:Utilizing IoT devices for real-time production data collection combined with machine learning algorithms for dynamic scheduling, the system optimizes resource utilization and production flexibility. This improvement has boosted graphite electrode output capacity by approximately 15%, effectively reducing equipment idle time and raw material waste.

2.Equipment Health Monitoring Platform:Vibration and temperature sensors continuously monitor key equipment such as graphitization furnaces and baking kilns. Predictive maintenance algorithms enable early fault detection, reducing unplanned downtime by about 30%, thereby enhancing operational stability and reliability.

3.AI Quality Inspection Technology:Computer vision systems replace manual inspection by detecting micro-defects on graphite electrode surfaces, achieving a detection accuracy rate of 99.5%. This advancement substantially increases inspection efficiency while ensuring compliance with rigorous industry quality standards, guaranteeing product safety and performance reliability.

Green Industry Transformation and Policy Alignment

Chairman Chen Wenming emphasized the company’s commitment to China’s “Raw Materials Industry Digital Transformation Plan (2024-2026),” with a planned investment of RMB 50 million over the next three years to accelerate the integration of 5G and industrial internet technologies. The goal is to establish a “lighthouse factory” in the carbon sector that exemplifies automation, intelligence, and green manufacturing.

Chen stated, “Graphite electrodes are critical in electric arc furnace steelmaking, a process characterized by high energy consumption and environmental challenges. Ruitong Carbon is dedicated to advancing green manufacturing practices, leveraging digital technologies to optimize energy consumption and minimize environmental impact, thereby supporting the high-quality development of the carbon industry in Cheng’an County and Hebei Province.”

Leading Industry Upgrade and Regional Collaborative Innovation

The observation conference attracted participants from metallurgical, machinery manufacturing, and new materials sectors. Ruitong Carbon’s digital transformation serves as a replicable model for traditional carbon enterprises, fostering upstream and downstream industrial chain collaboration and accelerating the transition from conventional to intelligent, digital graphite electrode production.

Industry experts note that the graphite electrode sector is at a critical juncture amid rising raw material volatility, stricter environmental regulations, and surging demand for high-performance products. Only companies rapidly advancing digital, green, and intelligent integration can sustain competitiveness. Ruitong Carbon’s continuous innovation and deep digital integration set a benchmark and are expected to drive widespread adoption of green intelligent manufacturing.

Future Outlook

With ongoing advancements in 5G and industrial internet, Ruitong Carbon plans to broaden intelligent manufacturing applications, enhance integrated data analytics, and realize full lifecycle management of production lines. Strengthening partnerships with research institutions and technology providers will further propel new material development and industrialization, enhancing product competitiveness in steelmaking, lithium-ion battery anodes, and specialty metallurgy sectors.

Ruitong Carbon’s digital transformation not only optimizes operations but also offers valuable insights for sustainable, high-quality development of China’s carbon industry, positioning Cheng’an County as a key innovation hub and driving regional economic growth.