JINCHENG, CHINA – On April 24–25, 2026, the coal processing industry marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation. At a high-level technical exchange event in Jincheng, Tianjin Meiteng Technology Co., Ltd. (“Meiteng”) officially showcased the ZhiMei Master, a pioneering industrial large-scale AI model designed to redefine intelligent coal preparation.
Hosted by the China Coal Processing and Utilisation Association (CCPUA) and co-organized by the state-owned giant Jinneng Holding Equipment Manufacturing Group, the event convened top-tier researchers, engineers, and industry executives to witness the convergence of heavy industry and generative artificial intelligence.
The Shift Toward Data-Driven Energy
As the global energy landscape undergoes a profound transition, the coal industry faces mounting pressure to enhance efficiency while meeting rigorous environmental standards. In China, the integration of AI into traditional sectors is no longer experimental—it is a strategic priority.
Industry experts at the conference noted that the sector is moving away from production models tethered to human experience and manual intervention. Instead, the industry is embracing a future of system-level intelligence, where data-driven operations and autonomous decision-making ensure that coal processing is both “clean” and highly optimized.
Introducing ‘ZhiMei Master’: The Brain of the Plant
Meiteng Technology, a leader in intelligent mining solutions, introduced the ZhiMei Masterlarge model as the centerpiece of its technological roadmap. Unlike standard automation software, ZhiMei Master integrates digital twin technology with deep industrial data repositories.
The model acts as a centralized “industrial brain,” capable of:
- Real-time Analysis: Processing vast streams of sensor data to predict equipment failure and optimize throughput.
- Process Optimization: Harmonizing variables across the entire washing and sorting circuit to maximize yield and quality.
- Multi-Terminal Collaboration: Providing decision-support interfaces across mobile, desktop, and control-room environments, ensuring transparency from the plant floor to the executive suite.
Taiyou Li, Chairman of Meiteng Technology, reflected on the company’s decade-long journey of innovation. “In 2016, our TDS® intelligent dry sorter revolutionized the industry by ‘freeing the hands’ of workers through automated separation,” Li stated. “Today, the ZhiMei Master model represents a historic leap forward. We are now ’empowering the brain’ of the industrial system, transitioning from individual machine automation to comprehensive, intelligent autonomy.”
Proven Performance: The Shihe Benchmark
The theoretical capabilities of the AI model were validated during a site visit to the Shihe Coal Mine No. 2 Coal Preparation Plant. As Meiteng’s flagship benchmark project, the facility serves as a living laboratory for the ZhiMei Master model.
Attendees observed how the AI system visualizes complex production flows in real-time, allowing the plant to respond dynamically to changes in raw coal quality. Industry leaders praised the plant’s intelligent construction, noting that the integration of the ZhiMei Master has already yielded measurable gains in economic performance and operational stability.
A Synergistic Hardware-Software Ecosystem
Meiteng’s vision extends beyond software. The company demonstrated a comprehensive suite of hardware designed to work in tandem with the ZhiMei Master AI:
- DCP-Intelligent Dry Preparation Plants: Handling full particle-size coal sorting with unprecedented precision.
- Underground Sorting & Backfilling Systems: Reducing surface environmental impact by processing waste rock sub-surface.
- Advanced Instrumentation: Including the X-ray–induced ash content analyzer and ultra-compression stack-bag filter presses.
- Intelligent Logistics: Autonomous loading and transportation systems that close the loop on plant operations.
This synergy illustrates the evolution from “single-machine intelligence” (isolated smart units) to “system-level intelligence” (a fully synchronized, self-optimizing ecosystem).
A Global Vision for Mining
While the event focused on the Chinese market, Meiteng is eyeing a global stage. Yonggang Gan, General Manager of Meiteng’s International Marketing Department, emphasized that the challenges of mineral processing—efficiency, safety, and sustainability—are universal.
“Meiteng is ready to export its matured AI-driven solutions to the global mining community,” said Gan. “We are fostering an open ecosystem for innovation and invite international partners to visit our Tianjin R&D base and our active project sites to witness the future of intelligent mineral processing firsthand.”
As the Jincheng event concluded, the consensus among participants was clear: the era of “AI + Coal” has arrived. With the ZhiMei Master model, Meiteng Technology is not just refining coal; it is refining the very intelligence that powers the modern energy industry.
