Domestic Innovation Takes Centre‑Stage at 23rd China International Chemical Industry Exhibition

According to Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, 16 September, a host of independently‑developed chemical new materials, the nation’s first home‑grown explosion‑proof inspection drone and an array of robots tailored for chemical‑plant scenarios have gone on public display at the 23rd China International Chemical Industry Exhibition. These exhibits illustrate the latest progress in the shift of China’s energy and chemical sector towards greener operations and greater intelligent capability.

Hosted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, the exhibition opened on 15 September at Shanghai New International Expo Centre and will run until 17 September. More than 760 domestic and overseas enterprises have secured exhibition spaces, covering energy petrochemicals, basic chemicals, advanced chemical materials, safety and environmental protection and other relevant fields. The exhibitor line‑up includes major industrial players such as China National Petroleum Corporation, Sinopec and Sinochem, alongside 168 specialised, sophisticated, unique and innovative small‑and‑medium‑sized enterprises.

On the opening day, a selection of newly launched domestic materials and technologies made their public debut, demonstrating home‑grown research and development strength within the chemical industry. China National Petroleum Corporation presented its globally exclusive mass‑produced acrylic fancy filament together with new polyolefin elastomer products. Sinopec showcased polybutene‑1 pipe‑grade material which breaks previously dominant foreign‑held technical monopolies. China National Chemical Engineering has completed the domestic production process for the key monomer of Nylon‑12.

Intelligent upgrading stands out as one of the defining features for this year’s event. Robot manufacturers are displaying explosion‑proof robotic units, inspection robots and sampling‑and‑delivery robots, offering fresh practical pathways to enhance safety and operational efficiency across chemical‑site workflows. Meanwhile, other intelligent manufacturing suppliers demonstrate digital twin systems, automated intelligent packaging lines and automatic inspection technologies. Such solutions support the evolution of chemical production away from experience‑driven modes towards data‑led operations.

The country’s first independently‑designed explosion‑proof inspection drone for hazardous‑chemical industries has made its premiere at the exhibition. Led by a domestic technology firm and developed jointly with several university‑based research laboratories, this drone features fully indigenous design for its complete airframe architecture as well as core sensing systems. It is capable of detecting thirteen different hazardous gases including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and ethanol, delivering millisecond‑scale rapid response once dangerous gas readings emerge.

Newly‑unveiled hardware and material solutions will continue to shape operational patterns for chemical facilities. Domestic research teams and industrial manufacturers keep advancing technical iteration to match the growing safety and low‑carbon requirements of energy‑chemical sites across China.