To further deepen university-enterprise cooperation, build a practical education platform and broaden students’ industrial horizons, enabling teachers and students to gain first-hand insight into cutting-edge technologies and smart manufacturing achievements in the new chemical materials sector, Dong Xiaoliang, Deputy Party Secretary, and Li Shengjuan, Vice Dean of the School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), led a team of faculty and students on a visit and exchange tour at Shanghai Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. on April 28, 2026.
During the visit, relevant corporate executives extended a warm welcome to the faculty and student group, and delivered a thorough, detailed presentation covering the company’s development history, accolades, core technologies, product portfolio, and intelligent production systems. It was noted that the predecessor of Shanghai Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. dates back to the Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Acrylic Plant founded in 1991. The current company was formally established in May 2013. Having long focused on new chemical materials, it has earned numerous prestigious honors supported by robust technical expertise and innovative capacity, including the First Class Prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award and the title of National Green Factory. It also became the first Lighthouse Factory in China’s process chemical industry.
Subsequently, corporate representatives elaborated on the extensive applications of acrylic acid and its ester derivatives, key raw materials for daily commodities such as cosmetics, leather goods, acrylic sheets, and adhesives. Superabsorbent polymers are primarily used in hygiene products including disposable diapers and sanitary napkins. With vivid real-world examples, the representatives illustrated how new chemical materials are deeply integrated into people’s livelihoods, allowing teachers and students to perceive the close links between such materials and everyday life.
The representatives then highlighted the company’s intelligent and digital transformation outcomes across six core dimensions: safety, infrastructure, training, supervision, operation procedures, and plant management. Advanced installations showcased included intelligent inspection robots, automated high-rise warehouses, and virtual simulation training platforms.In the exchange session, Vice Dean Li Shengjuan asked in-depth questions regarding the working mechanisms of various unmanned intelligent management and control devices. For instance, intelligent inspection robots patrol all designated sites across the plant, capturing real-time images to monitor equipment performance and operator behavior. Paired with electronic nose odor detection and personnel positioning systems, they form a comprehensive, intelligent safety production management and control framework. The automated high-rise warehouse spanning over 6,000 square meters requires only two to three on-site staff for supervision, enabling fully unmanned warehousing operations. Supported by the DCS simulation system, employees conduct simulated training on startup/shutdown procedures and emergency responses without disrupting actual production, refining operational proficiency and emergency reaction capabilities.
This visit and exchange created a frontline industrial learning platform for faculty and students. Participants gained direct exposure to advanced technologies, intelligent production models and green development philosophies within the new chemical materials industry. More importantly, the event strengthened communication and ties between the school and a high-quality enterprise, laying a solid foundation for future industry-university-research collaboration, internship base construction, and joint talent cultivation initiatives.
Moving forward, the School of Materials and Chemistry at USST will continuously advance collaborative university-enterprise education, closely align training programs with industrial demands, and refine its talent development framework. These efforts aim to boost students’ practical professional skills and overall competence, supplying a steady stream of outstanding professionals to fuel high-quality growth in the new chemical materials sector.
Full text: https://chxy.usst.edu.cn/2026/0506/c3680a361003/page.htm