Is there any way to turn a "newbie" in the kitchen into a "chef"?
"Smart kitchen appliances" such as "automatic cooking machines" and "combi steam ovens" are worth owning. By moving your fingers, you can master "chef" skills such as spooning and frying sugar, and prepare a "Manchu-Han banquet".
In Xingfu Town, Boxing County, Binzhou City, known as the "Smart Kitchen City of China", the "automatic cooking machine" can make thousands of dishes. Take making scrambled eggs with tomatoes as an example. Put the processed ingredients into the pot , start cooking after selecting the menu, and the machine will automatically add seasonings and stir-fry according to the set amount. As the set time ends, a dish with full color, flavor and flavor is ready.
There are many kinds of "smart kitchenware" similar to the above in Boxing County. How can this small town in Shandong conquer the world's kitchens with "smart kitchenware"?
The picture shows a smart gas stove cooking chicken and stewed mushrooms. Photo by Lu Yan
"Black technology" is integrated into the culinary world and "newbies" become "chefs"
As the largest stainless steel commercial kitchenware production base in China, Boxing County has developed the commercial kitchenware industry for more than 40 years. There are currently more than 2,800 kitchenware production and supporting companies of various types, with products covering commercial gas stoves, induction cookers, refrigeration cabinets, etc. Thousands of varieties, annual main business revenue of more than 30 billion yuan, annual production capacity of 20 million sets, market share accounting for 40% of China, exported to more than 50 countries and regions such as the United States, Germany, and Russia.
This also means that for every 100 "smart kitchenware" produced in China, 40 come from Boxing County.
The picture shows commercial kitchenware produced in Boxing County. Photo by Lu Yan
As production becomes increasingly intelligent, the kitchenware industry in Boxing County is also undergoing a "butterfly change". "In recent years, we have increased the research and development of commercial 'smart kitchen' equipment. Our products cover various categories such as automatic dishwashers and combi steam ovens, which have well catered to the market's demand for the construction of 'central kitchens.'" Shandong Jinbai Liu Baosheng, regional manager of South China of Special Commercial Kitchenware Co., Ltd. said.
For example, Liu Baosheng said that chefs use spoons to heat dishes evenly, and the internal wind speed of the multi-purpose steam oven they produce can reach 100 kilometers per hour, which can achieve the same effect as a "chef" stir-frying. "Our newly developed multi-purpose steam oven can cook food for 15 adults at a time. The machine comes with a menu of 200 dishes after leaving the factory, including steamed rice, stewed soup, and grilled chicken wings."
The picture shows the combi steam oven. Photo by Lu Yan
In Jinbaite's exhibition hall, an American businessman who came to purchase products said that after researching many companies, he finally selected a kitchenware company in Boxing County. In his opinion, these products meet his needs for intelligence, have high production efficiency and excellent product quality. "We plan to order more than 10 products including gas ovens and clay pot stoves from here."
"We have been engaged in foreign trade since 2010. Currently, the company's products are exported to the United States, Germany, Singapore, the Philippines and other countries. In the future, our main market will be in Southeast Asia, and we will even consider building factories in Southeast Asia within five years." Liu Baosheng told The reporter said when revealing the company’s future plans.
The picture shows workers inspecting kitchenware accessories in the production workshop of Shandong Tokyo Kitchen Industry Co., Ltd. Photo by Lu Yan
At Shandong Tokyo Kitchen Industry Co., Ltd., not far from Jinbaite, smart products such as smart gas stoves and induction cookers are in full swing. Bian Ze, the company's sales director, said that their products are exported to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and other regions, with annual sales of 120 million yuan and an annual output of more than 100,000 sets of products.
In addition, the intelligent sales system developed by Jingdu Kitchen Industry Company is widely sold in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, and the intelligent gas stove is sold in Xi'an, Harbin, Chengdu and other cities. "In the future, we will establish a foreign trade department to further develop overseas markets and promote 'smart kitchenware' to go abroad." Bian Ze said.
"Wisdom" empowers the "ecology" of kitchenware and explores the future of kitchens
The prototype of a new round of "smart kitchen" construction can be seen in the "China Smart Kitchen City".
Take Jinbaite mentioned above as an example. The company is working hard to build China's first "Urban Life Digital Kitchen" to ensure food safety through digital control, Internet of Things, AI artificial intelligence, green energy control and other technologies.
Chen Yuejin, chief engineer of Shandong Jinbaite Commercial Kitchenware Co., Ltd., said that intelligence and digitalization are the main directions of future research and development of kitchenware. Among the company's sales of 800 million yuan last year, smart products accounted for nearly 50%.
"We are also committed to building an energy-saving ecosystem for the entire kitchen." Chen Yuejin pointed at the smart gas stove in front of him and said that the waste heat of this product can be used by the dishwasher, reducing the dishwasher's 70 kilowatt energy consumption to about 40 kilowatts. The exhaust system also has intelligent monitoring. After the cooking equipment is turned on, it automatically starts and calculates the required air volume, with an average energy saving rate of 60%.
"These innovations allow us to go from being 'blindfolded' to having a clear understanding of energy consumption." Chen Yuejin said that with the development of the digital industry, they will also promote product upgrades and allow "digital kitchens" to be implemented in institutions, schools, etc. , bringing more “smart kitchenware” to the world.
The picture shows "Urban Life Digital Kitchen". Photo by Lu Yan
In 2022, a group of "third generation chefs" returned to their hometown of Boxing County to start a business, causing a sensation in the town.
A scientific and technological enterprise founded by more than a dozen "post-90s" people, focusing on the digital needs of the commercial kitchen industry, provides kitchenware manufacturers with special services such as robot body matching, parts supply and information sharing.
"Post-90s generation" Wang Zengkang, general manager of Binzhou Daote Technology Co., Ltd., said, "Since my grandfather's generation, the county has been engaged in the kitchenware industry. After years of development, the kitchenware industry has gradually shifted from family workshop-style production to intelligent manufacturing. I also want to use the expertise I have learned to help the traditional kitchenware industry undergo a transformation."
Wang Zengkang said that the company is currently focusing on the integration of commercial kitchen automation, using industrial robotic arms to improve the precision of production and processing, and making higher-quality commercial kitchen products. It has developed more than 100 automated processes for commercial kitchen single products. "We are also co-developing 'smart kitchens' with companies. Currently, there are many categories such as noodle cooking robots and frying robots, and we will design digital solutions for more products in the future."
The picture shows the dual-arm cooking robot developed by Binzhou Daote Technology Co., Ltd. Photo by Lu Yan
Create a characteristic industrial cluster for kitchenware and strive for the "World Smart Kitchen City"
After winning the prestigious business card of "China's Smart Kitchen City" in 2018, Xingfu Town in Boxing County has a new goal this year - to build a "World's Smart Kitchen City".
Looking at the recently completed Boxing Southern Warehousing and Logistics Center Phase I project, Li Shiqi, head of the project's operations department, said that Boxing County's "smart kitchenware" has now formed a complete industrial chain of design, research and development, production and manufacturing, and modern services.
The Boxing Southern Warehousing and Logistics Center will connect and serve Boxing kitchenware companies, improve the turnover efficiency and intelligence level of the kitchenware industry supply chain, help companies reduce costs and increase efficiency, and empower the kitchenware industry to develop in an intelligent, large-scale, and clustered manner. "Through the application of the intelligent Internet of Things, the entry and exit of kitchenware in the future will become clearer through intelligent data, which greatly saves labor and transportation costs." Li Shiqi said.
The picture shows the China Smart Kitchen City International Convention and Exhibition Center in Xingfu Town, Boxing County. Photo courtesy of Xingfu Town Publicity Office
Liu Mingbo, member of the Xingfu Town Party Committee and deputy mayor, said in an interview with reporters that the town will grasp the development direction of China's new catering economic reform, enrich industrial categories, expand the central kitchen and cold chain equipment industrial chain, and form a richer product range. , a commercial kitchenware industry cluster with a more complete chain, a more complete system, and a higher degree of correlation with related industries.
At present, Xingfu Town’s kitchenware products are exported to more than 50 countries and regions. In the next step, the government will actively guide companies to explore foreign customization needs and strive to build “China’s Smart Kitchen City” into the “World’s Smart Kitchen City” with “wisdom” Kitchenware” conquers the global culinary world.
Author: Lu Yan
Source: China News Service WeChat official account