Large AI model revolutionizes smelting in Guangxi

The first large AI model for the non-ferrous metal industry in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is transforming operations at Nanfang Nonferrous Metal Group, based in Nandan county of Hechi city, where a cutting-edge "AI-powered smelting brain" autonomously manages a large furnace, crucially enhancing precision and efficiency.

This innovation has decreased the need for manual operation by 95 percent and improved temperature control accuracy to within ±5 degrees Celsius.

Smart control room for the furnace at Nanfang Nonferrous Metals Group. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Inside the control room, engineers monitor real-time data on large screens showing the furnace temperature. Previously reliant on seasoned operators' intuition and experience, temperature and pressure adjustments often led to fluctuations exceeding ±15 degrees Celsius, impacting product quality and energy consumption.

In 2025, the company embraced a breakthrough with the "AI+manufacturing" model, addressing technical skill gaps by cultivating talent internally. Employees like Xiao Zaiyi, who had only rudimentary knowledge of the smelting process, transitioned from IT technicians to industrial AI application engineers, translating traditional smelting expertise into digital algorithms.

Launched in October 2025, the AI model digitizes decades of artisanal knowledge, using sensors to autonomously predict and adjust furnace conditions. This has not only streamlined operations but also accelerated new-employee training.

As the company expands this model across more departments, it sets a precedent for intelligent transformation in Guangxi's non-ferrous metal sector.