Ericsson today announced that its automated smart factory for 5G and 4G radio technology products is now operational in Nanjing, China.

The SEK 500 million smart factory stands among the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the industry, Ericsson said.

The technology products at the factory will benefit the Chinese communications industry, especially to roll out 5G, increase network capacity and make Industry 4.0 a reality.

At Nanjing, Ericsson has designed the first automatic assembly line for 5G radios, and upgraded automatic packing line that supports both 4G and 5G products.

Ericsson has also modernized 5G testing equipment to further accelerate the device deployments. AI is now used to recognize components in the production line, increasing efficiency, accuracy and quality.

State-of-the-art cellular IoT technologies in the Nanjing factory enable an automated alert system for immediate attention of critical issues and faults. Implemented at 45 work stations, it enables increased efficiency and speed of the production system.

The Nanjing factory follows the previous announcements on Ericsson digitalizing its factory in Estonia and establishing a smart factory in the US.

Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson, says, “Our factory in Nanjing is a great example of how our next-generation technology is changing the future of manufacturing for the better.”

“Our customers in China will benefit through the technology leadership, speed and capacity advantages that our automated smart factory will give us,” Jejdling added.