When planning a new plant, reasonable layout, orderly workshops, and efficient intelligent management are often the core goals pursued by enterprises. But how to transform these abstract planning ideas into intuitive and visible solutions, and clearly convey the advantages of a smart factory to customers and partners? In the cooperation project between Xuncheng Technology and Dongfang Hezheng, 3D animation demonstrations have successfully brought the operational scenarios of future factories to life "in advance". Whether for preliminary plant planning or later promotion and sales, 3D animation has played a significant role.
I. Visual Contrast Opening: Quickly Focusing on the Differences Between "Now and Future"
At the opening of the Dongfang Hezheng smart factory animation, Xuncheng Technology adopted a visual technique comparing "now" and "future", selecting key scenes such as the raw paper warehouse, paperboard buffer zone, carton production area, and finished product packaging area. As the camera pulls from right to left, a strong contrast in light and dark tones creates a visually impactful effect. Finally, a panoramic push-in completes the transition from the existing scene to the future smart factory. In just a few tens of seconds, the presentation firmly captured the audience's attention and intuitively demonstrated the upgrade value of the smart factory.
II. Core Scene Breakdown: Animating Key Aspects of the Smart Factory
Raw Paper Warehousing: "Dual Automation" of Information and Path
Before raw paper is warehoused, AGV carriers transport the raw paper to an automatic scanner. After scanning, the raw paper information is automatically entered and uploaded to the WMS system; meanwhile, the system automatically plans the AGV travel path based on warehouse location information. This is the intelligent logistics transportation in a smart factory.
To clearly demonstrate this process, Xuncheng Technology designed a set of shots: AGVs unload raw paper, then switch to a previous AGV completing the raw paper information scan, with two virtual screens displaying raw paper information and AGV travel paths, perfectly presenting the automatic information collection, entry, and path planning during the operation of a future smart factory.
Intelligent Logistics: Efficient Space Utilization Under MES Coordination
Intelligent logistics is the core network of a smart factory, and the animation focuses on "efficiency and space optimization" for this aspect. After corrugated paperboard production is completed, it needs to be sent to the buffer zone for temporary storage.
Therefore, the shots in this section first focus on the side view of the paperboard production line, and then through a panning shot, show: under the coordinated scheduling of the MES (Manufacturing Execution System), two stacks of paperboard are transported by electric transporters to their respective buffer logistics tracks. In the system's "maximize storage space utilization" mode, paperboards on adjacent logistics modules first move closer to each other, then move forward synchronously, minimizing the gaps between paperboards and greatly increasing the buffer zone's space utilization rate. In this way, a few simple combinations of shots can clearly convey the core advantages of intelligent logistics.
Automated Loading and Shipping: "Full Automation" Covering Multiple Scenarios
The automated loading and shipping system is the "last mile" of a smart factory. The animation illustrates three mainstream shipping scenarios to meet the needs of different warehousing models:
High-bay Warehouse Shipping: The WMS system automatically identifies the location of finished products based on shipping instructions. When finished products are retrieved from the warehouse, equipment automatically reads product information and enters it into the system. After transfer by the automated high-bay warehouse transport device, AGVs complete the loading.
Flat Warehouse / Online Finished Product Shipping: Without complex transfer processes, AGVs directly transport finished products stored in flat warehouses or directly from production lines to shipping vehicles according to system instructions, achieving rapid dispatch.
III. Value Empowered by Animation: From "Visualization" to "Order Conversion"
Future smart factories are not mere fantasies. Currently, many domestic manufacturing enterprises are actively exploring the construction of smart factories and "lights-out" factories. Many capable companies have already implemented relevant solutions and become industry benchmarks.
Dongfang Jinggong, as a leading enterprise in the corrugated manufacturing field, showcased future scenarios of corrugated manufacturing on a large LED screen to global customers at the "China International Corrugated Exhibition" in April this year. This intuitive presentation method not only received high recognition from customers worldwide but also helped the company secure a large number of orders.
Selected FAQs:
Q: How to produce smart factory animation videos?
A: The production of smart factory animation videos should pay attention to the following points:
1- Preliminary Communication: In-depth communication between both parties is required beforehand. The client should be very clear about the content and information the video aims to convey.
2- Script and Copywriting: Both parties should finalize the script and copywriting before production, and also determine key shots if necessary.
3- Provide Complete Models: Smart factories involve many machines and equipment, requiring complete equipment models. If the client cannot provide complete models, they should provide pictures of the equipment for modeling (from multiple angles).
4- Sufficient Production Cycle: The production cycle for smart factory animation videos is generally long. The client should allocate sufficient production time before starting.
Q: Why is there no unified standard for industrial 3D animation quotes?
A: There are many factors influencing 3D animation quotes:
1- Model Factors: Whether the client can provide models, the completeness of the models, and the complexity of the models (e.g., a car model is more complex than a bicycle) will all affect the quote.
2- Production Quality (e.g., two different production effects for the same equipment below);
3- Animation Video Duration;
4- Animation Video Production Cycle;
5- Closeness of Collaboration between Parties.
Q: When is it suitable for companies to produce 3D animations?
A: The following three time points are more suitable for producing promotional 3D animations:
1- Before Exhibitions: It's best to have the animation video ready 15-30 days in advance to warm up for the exhibition;
2- New products or new equipment are about to be launched into the market;
3- Major client visits and exchanges.
4- Product Development Stage: Assists in inter-departmental communication and collaboration within the company; helps attract investment or partnership opportunities; simulates design issues in advance to reduce R&D costs and risks.
5- Internal Training Stage
It should be noted that 3D animation videos have a certain production cycle. It is best to communicate with the production company in advance to arrange the production time reasonably.
About Xuncheng Technology
Founded in 2016, with 9 years of professional industrial 3D animation creation experience, serving clients from startups, overseas clients, listed companies, and foreign-invested enterprises. Specializing in 3D animation creation for mechanical equipment, high-tech, software development, foreign trade companies, etc. Providing one-stop industrial 3D animation creative services from product sales to after-sales maintenance.
Provided nearly 3000 minutes of professional animation videos for over 200 manufacturing enterprises.
Whether at exhibitions or client visits; whether expanding overseas markets or improving after-sales service, we firmly believe that through the power of design, complex products and machinery can be presented through stunning 3D animation. This not only brings a unique visual experience to clients but also quickly resonates with them.
