CIMC "Zero-Carbon" Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park Aims to Build North China's Most Comprehensive Offshore Engineering Equipment Manufacturing Cluster
Source: Dazhong Daily | Reporter: Yang Xiuping
As the crisp autumn breeze sweeps across the golden fields, painting the countryside with the season's most vibrant harvest hues, over 700 workers at the CIMC "Zero-Carbon" Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park are busy installing internal roads and installing connecting corridors. The first phase of the park is advancing at full speed, harmonizing with the rhythm of autumn in a symphony of progress.
With the deadline approaching, Wang Yingtao, project manager for the first phase, has been practically living on the construction site. " Built on previously underutilized mountainous terrain, after more than a year of construction, all ten single-structure buildings in Phase 1 are fully completed, soon to be operational, while Phase 2 is set to commence immediately," Wang explained. The total investment in the park amounts to 8 billion yuan, covering 1,500 mu (100 hectares) and divided into three phases. Phase 1, spanning 319 mu (21.3 hectares) with an investment of 1.98 billion yuan, primarily includes R&D centers, production plants, and commercial support facilities.
Even as Phase 1 enters its final stages, the parks investment attraction team has successfully secured numerous projects. Leading offshore engineering companies such as Singapore's Jiao, Omega, and Weihai Shuangyu have already selected factory spaces and begun production line designs.
Recently, a delegation of six executives from Swiss ABB Group, a global leader in electrification and automation, including Rune Braastad, General Manager of the Marine Systems Department, and Alfkare Adnanes, Asia Pacific General Manager from the Marine & Ports division, visited the park and expressed clear intent to establish a presence. Furthermore, several other prominent international companies, including Norway's "national treasure" Kongsberg Group and Italy's Mazar, have also indicated their intention to locate there.
Why are leading offshore engineering companies favoring this park? The answer lies in the park's "chain development" philosophy. "Centered around CIMC Raffles, the city's designated 'chain master' enterprise for the offshore engineering industry, the park leverages its leading role to practice 'chain development', aiming to 'rely on one enterprise, drive one industry, and build one ecosystem'," explained a relevant person in charge of the CIMC "Zero-Carbon" Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park. "At the same time, by focusing on the semi-submersible platform final assembly integration chain, we have identified 16 specific sub-sector categories for targeted investment attraction. Adopting a 'construct while attracting investment' model, we prioritize attracting supporting enterprises in offshore equipment, ship components, control systems, etc., to establish production centers, technical centers, supporting service centers, and equipment assembly, testing, and construction bases within the park. Our goal is to build Northern China's most comprehensive offshore engineering equipment manufacturing industrial cluster."
Taking ABB as an example, the Group is a key supplier to CIMC Raffles, providing critical equipment like thrusters, overall electrical packages for vessels, and pods. "Our long-standing cooperation with CIMC Raffles includes successful collaborations on major national projects like the 'Blue Whale 1' ultra-deepwater drilling platform," said Alfkare Adnanes. "Our partnership has gradually expanded to cover areas such as system integration for offshore wind installation vessels, automated welding, and vessel electrification, holding significant positions in the global high-end offshore engineering equipment market."
Beyond the "chain development" approach, the park's specialized supporting services are another major draw for high-quality projects. A primary advantage is its green, low-carbon features and cost benefits. Emphasizing the "zero-carbon" concept, the park prioritizes renewable energy as the primary power source for its infrastructure. From rooftop photovoltaic utilization and rooftop garden designs in leisure areas to the use of prefabricated construction for standard industrial plants and efficient digital energy management during operation, it ensures green and low-carbon practices throughout the entire lifecycle—from design and construction to smart operation. The park is committed to setting an industry benchmark for leading, smart, and ecological "zero-carbon" industrial parks, effectively reducing electricity costs for tenants.
"To effectively resolve difficulties and blockages during park's development, we adopted a 'state-owned enterprise leads construction + operator' model. Project headquarters were established by Laishan District's state-owned enterprise, Zhengyuan Group and CIMC Raffles respectively, ensuring rapid coordination and efficient implementation of scheduling matters," noted by a Lashan District official. The district also implements a "one-on-one" enterprise service system, offering comprehensive support from policy and legal consulting to financing and lifestyle service.
"The CIMC 'Zero-Carbon' Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park is a benchmark project for promoting green, low-carbon, high-quality development in Shandong Province and Yantai City. It is also a vivid example of Laishan District's push for green development and a crucial part of the simultaneous upgrade of the city and its industries," the official stated. "Upon completion, the park will fully exert its 'nest building to attract phoenixes' effect, drawing more high-end offshore and heavy engineering enterprises to achieve full comprehensive industrial chain coverage."
