(Yicai) Sept. 21 -- China will chase its first gold medal in additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, and a sixth consecutive title in computer numerical control (CNC) milling at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, putting two of the country’s key advanced manufacturing fields in the spotlight.

"We are very much looking forward to the Chinese contestants winning the first gold medal in the additive manufacturing category," Xu Ziqian, a teacher in the Manufacturing Engineering Department at Shanghai Technician School and a member of the event's technical support team, told Yicai ahead of the biennial race held in China for the first time.

Known as the “Olympics of Skills,” the next WorldSkills Competition -- the largest to date -- will kick off tomorrow in Shanghai, bringing together more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions across 64 skills. The event tests young professionals in skills ranging from robotics, welding, and aircraft maintenance to cooking, hairdressing, and web development.

China has high hopes for the two fields, which represent contrasting approaches to advanced manufacturing. 3D printing builds objects layer by layer from digital designs, while CNC milling uses computer-controlled tools to cut and shape solid materials into precise components, from watch parts to ship propellers.

The competition is expected to push technological boundaries. Xu said that China-developed 3D printing equipment is already widely available on the market, while this year's competition could see contestants use artificial intelligence to assist with design, helping them move beyond conventional approaches and explore new methods that could advance the industry's technology.

China Eyes Sixth CNC Milling Gold

While China is seeking a new breakthrough in 3D printing, CNC milling has traditionally been a strong event for Chinese competitors, who have won the category five times in a row.

Long Weijie, who won the CNC Milling gold medal at the previous WorldSkills Competition, now teaches CNC machining at the School of Intelligent Manufacturing at Foshan Polytechnic and helps train competitors for skills competitions.

WorldSkills CNC milling tasks are often based on real-world business needs because of the technology's widespread industrial applications, according to the teacher from the technical institution in southern China.

Companies place a high value on skilled workers who can independently manufacture parts and solve technical problems on site, Long said, adding that the engineering mindset developed through WorldSkills training can therefore help competitors adapt more quickly to manufacturing jobs.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine