(Yicai) April 20 -- Chinese manufacturers showcased their achievements in applying industrial-grade technology and artificial intelligence in consumer goods at the just-concluded first session of the 139th China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair.

This year’s fair is being held in three phases. The first, with the theme of “Advanced Manufacturing,” was held in Guangzhou from April 15 to yesterday. It attracted a record number of buyers, according to the organizers.

Wen Hao, deputy director of the international business department at Uniorange Internet Design Company‌, explained how the firm used industrial-grade sensing technology from its parent company, oilfield services provider Jereh Group, to make hair dryers that take better care of consumers’ hair and scalps.

Using an AI sensing probe to monitor the distance between the air outlet and the scalp in real time, the hair dryers automatically adjust the temperature to ensure stable heating at 55 degrees Celsius, Wen said. The Shandong-based firm’s largest market is South Korea, followed by Europe and South America, and sales are currently seeing double-digit growth, Wen added.

Jinan-based Gweike Laser has created a laser printing product that allows photo uploads from smartphones and offers “what you take is what you get” printing. According to Sales Director Du Jiali, the product’s sales almost doubled in its second year on the market.

The company said it bagged about 20 potential orders in the first two days of this year’s Canton Fair, with seven to eight customers already making payments. Gweike also said it anticipated sales of between CNY10 million and CNY12 million (USD1.47 million and USD1.76 million) within two weeks after the fair.

The use of algorithms was another notable feature at the fair. Hefei Taiho Intelligent Technology Group applies deep learning algorithms to nut sorting, based on criteria such as width, shape, size, and weight. The system is capable of dynamic modelling and does not have to check through databases.

Marketing Director Hu Xingxing compared this to scrolling through Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and said there has been an enthusiastic market response since its launch last year. There have also been numerous inquiries from clients in India and Africa at the fair, he noted.

Gao Bin, general manager of Hongxujin Technology, said the company initially focused on producing window-cleaning robots, and developed an algorithm to allow the robots to work stably on glass and even solar panels. The algorithm has since been applied in other areas, such as emotional companion robots and firefighting robot dogs.

The company has annual sales of about USD50 million, 90 percent of which comes from overseas, Gao said.

According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, the country’s imports and exports of goods totaled CNY11.84 trillion (USD1.74 trillion) in the first quarter of this year, up 15 percent from a year ago, exceeding the CNY11 trillion mark in the quarter for the first time.

Editor: Tom Litting