Veteran in Publishing and Printing Industry Embraces New Heights with AI Collaboration

Zhao Renyi: A Veteran in the Publishing and Printing Industry Finds a New Partner

“I never expected to achieve a new breakthrough so close to retirement; it’s an incredibly fulfilling feeling.” — Zhao Renyi, Team Leader of the Cutting Team at the Beijing Printing Group’s Publication Production Center.

On April 15, in the cutting workshop of the Beijing Printing Group’s Publication Production Center, Zhao Renyi called for his “partner” to assist with transporting paper right after finishing a cutting job. He opened the work order on his computer and, with a few quick keystrokes, summoned an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) smart transportation robot, which smoothly made its way from 20 meters away.

The robot calmly approached the designated location, double-checking the storage location number before backing in. Soon, its two side panels securely lifted a pallet of paper before it made a turn to head towards the specified printing machine.

“The AGV robot takes care of the heaviest tasks for us, saving a lot of time and energy,” Zhao proudly explained to reporters as he watched the robot move away.

The printing and packaging industry is labor-intensive and has long been plagued by issues such as diverse material categories, inefficient logistics, chaotic inventory management, insufficient equipment coordination, and fragmented data links. Zhao used to rush between the cutting and paper transport processes daily. A round trip for paper delivery could cover nearly 100 meters, and it was common to make 180 trips in a day, often racking up 20,000 to 30,000 steps on his WeChat step counter.

“The physical toll was significant, especially in summer. Even with air conditioning in the workshop, I would still be drenched in sweat,” Zhao mentioned. Previously, transporting paper relied entirely on manual labor, loading cut paper onto a hand truck and pulling it to the printing machine. A single load of paper could weigh at least half a ton. “Where to store the paper and how to efficiently assign tasks to each machine relied solely on experience. Any misallocation could easily lead to mountains of raw and semi-finished paper piling up.”

In 2024, Beijing Light Industry Research Institute, in collaboration with Beijing Printing Group and other entities, innovatively developed an “AI + Digital Printing Factory” intelligent manufacturing system. After over 20 years in the cutting workshop, Zhao welcomed a new work “partner.”

This AGV robot not only has a large build—it stands over 2 meters tall and can carry up to 1.5 tons—but it also boasts advanced capabilities. Equipped with AI algorithms, deep cameras, and laser radar, it can dynamically allocate storage locations, navigate autonomously, and intelligently identify obstacles, effectively replacing manual labor in the transport of printing paper.

The AGV robot can dynamically adjust the allocation of 64 storage locations, efficiently managing material turnover. It features “vision” technology, using deep cameras and laser radar to collect images in real-time, automatically verifying material placement and storage status, and planning optimal routes without manual record-keeping. It can even coordinate multiple AGVs and production equipment, intelligently managing their operational rhythms to resolve path conflicts.

Initially, Zhao found it challenging to adapt to this new partner, often worrying about potential errors. However, he soon realized that as long as he provided accurate instructions, the AGV would respond precisely. Gradually, he grew more confident, and his collaboration with the robot became increasingly seamless. He could now complete nearly 40 tasks in a day, nearly doubling his previous efficiency.

“Now, I only take about 10,000 steps a day and don’t have to transport such heavy paper anymore.” With the extra time and energy, Zhao has been learning more operational techniques and frequently shares his experiences with the technical staff, offering suggestions for improvements to the AGV.

This year, the AGV robot will undergo further upgrades, with the goal of enabling it to operate across different floors and streamline the four major processes: cutting, printing, inspecting, and folding.

“I never expected to experience a new breakthrough so close to retirement; it feels incredibly fulfilling,” said the 54-year-old Zhao Renyi, who is looking forward to his new “partner”: “I hope it becomes even more flexible and takes intelligent production to new heights.”