(Yicai Global) June 16 -- BASF’s sales in China jumped by 14.9 percent last year from the year before as the German chemicals giant puts more emphasis on digitization in its second largest market.

BASF raked in EUR8.5 billion (USD10 billion) in China last year, according to its latest financial report.

“In 2020, BASF demonstrated its resilience by adopting measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, safeguard business operations and ensure reliable deliveries to our customers,” Stephan Kothrade, president and chairman of BASF China, said on June 11.

Digitization is an integral part of Ludwigshafen-based BASF’s business, said Bradley Morrison, the regional vice president of operations and site management. “China develops and implements technologies perhaps faster than what we have seen in the rest of the world.”

Digital tools are widely used in BASF's factories. For example, an operator can issue electronic tickets after passing through facial recognition using mobile phones. Artificial intelligence robots can self-navigate and complete daily inspections through fifth-generation networks. A great deal of data can be obtained through sensors, to predict equipment failures and perform maintenance work.

Virtual holographic augmented reality glasses allow an inspector can work remotely. The AR glasses are connected to the inspection robots, which can patrol in areas where people cannot easily enter, enabling inspectors to watch how things happen remotely.

Suppliers and experts can use the HoloLens glasses for interactive de-bugging even though they cannot come on site due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Yin Xiaomin, regional senior operation director in charge of automotive emission control business.

The chemical industry has always been highly automated, so increased digitization is not likely to lead to many job losses, Morrison said. BASF’s use of digital tools is to make production safer, more efficient and reduce carbon emissions, he added.

”Digitalization is more about freeing our intellectual space and opening up the possibility of rededicating our time from routine control and monitoring tasks that can be done in the future by digital tools,” said Kothrade. “Whatever we decide, though, even very smart machines can't replace creativity, and this creativity is the most important capital we have in the brains of our employees.”

Editor: Kim Taylor