As the digital wave sweeps across the global manufacturing industry, industrial baking stands at a historic juncture of intelligent transformation.

According to the latest report by Research and Markets, the global bakery processing equipment market is projected to grow from USD 14.89 billion in 2025 to USD 15.97 billion in 2026, and exceed USD 21.08 billion by 2030. This growth is driven not only by the continuous expansion of global baking consumption, but also by the in-depth integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into the baking sector. Fully automated production lines, intelligent oven integration, digital twins, AI visual inspection and other technologies are reshaping the fundamental logic of the baking industry.

In China, this transformation is equally profound. Digital twin technology has become a key tool for baking enterprises to achieve intelligent energy management; AI vision systems can conduct millisecond-level detection of product size and color, turning consistent high-quality production into a replicable standard. Meanwhile, PIA Automation has expanded from industrial smart manufacturing to the food equipment sector, and Yongchuang Intelligence has set up a humanoid robot R&D department – the entry of diverse players is accelerating technological integration and the overall upgrading of the industry.

Against this historical backdrop, The 28th Bakery China, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Shanghai from May 20 to 23, 2026, will take "Industrial Baking 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing" as its core theme, showcasing innovative achievements across the entire industry chain, from raw material supply, intelligent equipment and packaging solutions to industrial baked finished products.

Explore Full-Process Solutions for Industrial Baking Manufacturing at The 28th Bakery China

Industrial baking production is an interlocking automated chain, where every link from raw material inbound to finished product outbound requires the collaboration of precision equipment and intelligent systems.

Raw Material Handling & Batching Systems: The starting point of industrial baking, laying the foundation for product quality. Core equipment includes automatic weighing systems, batching stations, powder conveying systems, liquid metering systems and feeders. Representative enterprises: Bühler, offering complete automated solutions from raw material reception to batching; Zeppeline, a global leader in material handling systems with over 15,000 installed projects worldwide.

Mixing & Blending Systems: Determining dough quality. Core equipment covers horizontal/vertical mixers, continuous mixers and vacuum mixers. Representative enterprises: GEA, providing a full range of industrial mixing equipment; Sinmag, a major Chinese manufacturer of mixing equipment; DIOSNA, a professional global manufacturer of innovative mixing and granulating machines.

Forming & Dividing Systems: The core link for processing dough into specific shapes. Core equipment includes dough dividers and rounders, forming machines, encrusting machines, dough sheeters and forming systems. Representative enterprises: Rheon, renowned for encrusting and forming equipment with a speed of up to 100 units per minute; Rademaker, specializing in forming equipment for pastry products; HUNDRED MACHINERY, a representative Chinese enterprise of encrusting and forming equipment.

Proofing Systems: Determining product fluffiness and taste. Core equipment includes continuous proofers, rack-type proofing rooms and temperature & humidity controlled proofing systems. Representative enterprises: AMF Bakery Systems, providing various continuous and rack-type proofing systems with precise temperature and humidity control; MIWE, a German expert in ovens and proofing equipment.

Baking Systems: The core thermal processing equipment of industrial baking. Core equipment includes tunnel ovens, deck ovens, rotary ovens and continuous ovens. Representative enterprises: MIWE, a renowned German oven expert in the industrial baking field; GEA Bakery Systems, offering a variety of industrial oven solutions; KOLB, a German brand in electric oven technology.

Cooling & Packaging Systems: Ensuring product shelf life and appearance. Core equipment includes spiral coolers, tunnel coolers, automatic slicers and packaging machines. Representative enterprises: GEA, providing integrated cooling and packaging systems; Yongchuang Intelligence, whose packaging equipment equipped with AI visual recognition achieves high-precision operation; Bingquan, a comprehensive refrigeration equipment supplier focusing on refrigeration system technology and frozen food quick-freezing technology.

Full-Line Integration & Digital Systems: The "brain" enabling full-process smart manufacturing. Core solutions include MES systems, digital twins, AI visual quality inspection and full-plant automation integration. Representative enterprises: Bühler, offering Industry 4.0 intelligent production line solutions; PIA Automation, expanding from industrial smart manufacturing to the food equipment sector and realizing real-time energy monitoring and dynamic optimization with digital twin technology.

Attend the Industrial Baking & Smart Manufacturing Forum at The 28th Bakery China

As the wave of Industry 4.0 sweeps the globe and digital twins and artificial intelligence reshape production logic, the future of the baking industry is being redefined. This forum aims to reveal how baking enterprises can leverage artificial intelligence, big data and green technology to restructure productivity and competitiveness.

The forum covers five core topics:

Global Smart Manufacturing: From single-machine automation to "lights-out factories", exploring ultimate efficiency and flexibility on the production side.

Artificial Intelligence & Big Data: Reshaping human-machine relations and decision-making models, with a focus on AI's in-depth integration into process core and enterprise management.

Business Collaboration: Digital and intelligent upgrading of omni-channels and supply chains, connecting factories with front-end stores and consumers to realize the C2M model.

Green & Circular Development: Technological paths for sustainable development to address raw material fluctuations and rising energy costs.

Roundtable Discussion: Smart manufacturing transformation as a top-priority project and its actual input-output ratio, as well as phased transformation strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Discover the Industrial Baking Innovation Zone at The 28th Bakery China

Held at the same venue and time as the forum, the Industrial Baking Innovation Zone will focus on the integrated development of industrial baking and smart manufacturing, showcasing new technologies and solutions such as automated production lines, intelligent packaging equipment, energy-saving baking systems and digital management systems. It is not only a premium display area for new industry products, but also an excellent platform for equipment enterprises to connect with global professional buyers and explore cooperation opportunities.

We sincerely invite more equipment enterprises that are deeply engaged in innovation in industrial baking and smart manufacturing, AI intelligent applications, packaging material technologies, and intelligent inspection and testing to join us at The 28th Bakery China. Let us work together to lead the intelligent upgrading of China's baking industry and seize new high ground in the market!