TCL opens US$290m factory in Guangzhou

CHINA: Chinese home appliance manufacturer TCL has opened a new US$290m air conditioning factory in Guangzhou, with an annual production capacity of eight million units.

The low-carbon factory park spans 303 acres and features three 24-hour ‘lights-out’ 24hr factories, 15 advanced laboratories, and 10 intelligent production lines. It features 50,000m² of solar panels and an AI-driven energy management system, resulting in a production process with near-zero waste and emissions.

Incorporating an AI data supercomputing centre, with over 2,000 AI agents and a high-density network of industrial robots, the facility operates a fully automated production system for core components. This includes an ultra-high-precision heat exchanger production line that uses AI algorithms to improve operational efficiency by 41.7%.

Last week’s official factory opening also coincided with celebrations of the production of the company’s 100 millionth air conditioning unit since 2021.

“Producing 100 million units is a landmark achievement that reflects the trust of customers worldwide,” said Du Juan, CEO of TCL Industries Holdings. “By using AI and smart technology, we remain committed to enhancing consumers’ quality of life while also contributing to a more sustainable future through energy-saving solutions and eco-friendly design.”