Global PCB Leader Zhen Ding Tech. Group Enhances Factory Safety Management and Environmental Sustainability through Smart Platforms

As a leading global manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs), Zhen Ding Tech. Group has always regarded safety and environmental protection as the foundation of its development. The company is dedicated not only to creating a safe working environment but also to actively promoting energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Since 2022, it has implemented the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Solution from Advantech's WISE-IoT iFactory and the Compressor I.App from Advantech's iEMS Solution, aiming to accelerate the realization of the company's core principle of green and sustainable business operations through intelligentization.

Real-Time Status Monitoring Enhances Factory Safety

Peng Zhou, Advantech's head of key accounts in South China, highlighted that Zhen Ding has established over 20 service centers and six major production bases worldwide. For its new factory at the Shenzhen production base in China, Zhen Ding chose Advantech's solutions, recognizing Advantech as a leader in industrial IoT solutions. This decision was also influenced by Advantech's long-term assistance in automating Zhen Ding's factory equipment systems.

For safety monitoring, Zhen Ding Tech. Group employed Advantech’s EHS to create comprehensive safety supervision platform for its factories. Peng Zhou explained that Zhen Ding’s EHS integrates safety signals from more than ten isolated subsystems, including fire protection, electromechanical systems, environmental engineering, and manufacturing. This data is consolidated onto a single platform, enabling real-time monitoring of all factory operations. If a hazardous situation or abnormality is detected, the system automatically notifies the relevant personnel immediately. Even when administrators are not on-site, they can still access information about where, when, and what type of abnormal situation has occurred and can remotely manage safety incidents in real-time from the control room.

Advantech’s solution architect, Qi-Wei Yan, explained that if a fire occurs in a building within the factory, the Zhen Ding EHS platform connects with the fire protection, CCTV, and OA systems to display the specific alarm location and details of on-duty personnel information on a map, notifying staff to respond immediately. Additionally, the system incorporates AI to offer appropriate contingency measures for different types of safety incidents, such as fires, environmental changes, and equipment-related injuries. This allows personnel to follow protocols effectively, preventing incidents from escalating further.

Upgrades in Energy Management Helped Save Nearly NT20 Million Annually

Regarding energy conservation, Zhen Ding has achieved significant savings through the digital management and intelligent control of air compressors using the Compressor I.App, aligning with China's environmental policies and the green supply chain requirements of international clients. Advantech’s Smart Energy Solutions Architect, Yong-Sheng Zhao, explained that the Compressor I.App is equipped with an AI-driven energy-saving algorithm that enables the intelligent control of air compressors. This system balances supply and demand by adjusting the air compressors based on production and usage conditions, thus avoiding unnecessary energy waste. For example, it can automatically adjust the compressor’s pressure settings based on changes in air demand, replacing manual adjustments, reducing energy consumption, and lightening personnel workloads.

Yong-Sheng Zhao emphasized that with the intelligent control implemented in just two air compressor stations at the Huai'an campus, Zhen Ding saves NT$3 million in electricity bills annually. If this system is fully implemented across all six production sites in China, it is projected to save up to NT$20 million in electricity bills annually, significantly contributing to Zhen Ding's ESG sustainability goals.

Advantech's Professional Team Provides Profound Services

Unlike other projects where Advantech systems were implemented in existing facilities, this project involved the construction of a new factory for Zhen Ding. Advantech participated in the planning stage of the building's construction, offering professional advice on key aspects such as setting up subsystems in addition to categorizing and collecting data. For example, Advantech recommended that Zhen Ding adopt an open system, which would streamline the integration and data collection of multiple subsystems after they became operational.

Given the significant results achieved with Advantech's smart systems, Zhen Ding has already initiated a project at its Kaohsiung plant in Taiwan, with plans to implement the iEMS's ECOWatch energy management solution. In the future, Zhen Ding also intends to replicate this success at its factory in Thailand by further implementing Advantech's smart systems, fully advancing the group’s journey toward intelligent transformation.

Case Benefits

• Real-time monitoring and emergency handling of various safety incidents such as fires
• Intelligent monitoring and adjustment of air compressor settings, reducing energy waste through AI energy-saving algorithms
• Expected annual savings of over NT$3 million in electricity bills

Advantech WISE-IoT Solutions

• EHS: Assists manufacturers in enhancing environmental safety, analyzing their environmental carbon footprint, and ensuring uninterrupted facility operations across all areas.
• Compressor: Provides intelligent control of factory air compressors, achieving consistent air pressure, sufficient air supply, and unmanned management, all of which significantly reduce unit energy consumption, labor management, and equipment maintenance costs.。

About WISE-IoT