(Yicai) July 1 -- The 20th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair attracted more than 10,000 buyers, resulting in preliminary agreements exceeding CNY100 billion (USD14 billion) and highlighting advances in industrial design and smart manufacturing.

The CISMEF lured more than 2,000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, regions, and international organizations to Guangzhou, including over 550 overseas exhibitors, Yicai learned from the event organizer. The four-day expo ended yesterday.

In the 80,000-square-meter exhibition area, one standout feature was the 2,500-sqm Industrial Design Exhibition, which showcased over 150 award-winning designs from international competitions. The display demonstrated how innovative concepts can be transformed into real-world products, driving industrial chain upgrades.

Among the celebrated designs, Shenzhen-based Artop Group, an industrial design services firm, presented a smart supercharging solution developed for battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology. The device integrates photovoltaic power generation, energy storage buffering, and ultra-fast charging into a single unit.

Humanoid Robots

Smart manufacturing was another key focus of CISMEF, with many companies boasting their latest humanoid robot innovations.

Li-Gong Industrial, a Guangzhou-based collaborative robot maker, participated in the event for the third consecutive year. The company displayed a humanoid robot slated for mass production later this year, designed primarily for factory assembly and logistics handling.

“We hope to showcase our product at CISMEF, attract new customers, and explore overseas demand,” said Ma Chenchen, director at Li-Gong.

Ma added that although humanoid robotics remains in the early stages of research and development, the company plans to improve product maturity while targeting international markets such as the European Union and Southeast Asia.

Another industry peer, High Torque Robotics, made its debut at the fair. The Chinese firm exhibited two updated humanoid robots and one of them already participated in the Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon in April, noted Wang Haoyue, the firm’s market manager.

Currently, High Torque’s robots are primarily used in research and development settings, serving as open platforms for institutions and universities engaged in technical testing across areas such as machine vision, voice interaction, and virtual reality.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine