Beginning in the 1860s, with the rise of the Industrial Revolution in England, the invention and application of a new power machine, the steam engine, brought mankind into the age of steam. From 1760 to 1860 was the era of Industry 1.0, mainly marked by water power and steam engines, which achieved mechanization; from 1861 to 1950 was the era of Industry 2.0, mainly marked by electricity and electric motors, which achieved electrification; from 1951 to 2010 was the era of Industry 3.0, mainly marked by electronics and computers, which achieved automation; and nowadays intelligence, informatization and personalization mark that we have entered the era of Industry 4.0 and the booming development of automation technology in China.

The development of Internet technology has disrupted all the industries of our time. Industry is the foundation of the times, the most solid cornerstone of economic development. Once the two are combined, a dazzling spark is bound to emerge. "Internet data + transmission manufacturing" is the essence of Industry 4.0. "Industry 4.0" is the first concept put forward by Germany, followed by the United States launched the "Industrial Internet". When it affects China, we have set the goal of "Made in China". Of course, the essential content of these three is similar, all pointing to a central point, that is, intelligent manufacturing.

The development of industrial automation in China is inseparable from improving the technical level of many industries in the national economy. It is China's key force to transform traditional industries, establish an automated industrial system and high-tech industries, so the development of industrial automation has great prospects.

Throughout the current industrial development in China, there are three types of companies that will have sufficient development in the field of China's Industry 4.0 in the next decade: the first type is the smart factory, which is divided into two types: the first is a traditional factory transformed into a smart factory; the second is a smart factory from the beginning. The second category is solution companies, which provide manufacturing companies with top-level design of smart factories, transformation path maps, and integrated software and hardware implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions.

The third category is technology providers, including industrial Internet of Things, industrial cyber security, industrial big data, cloud computing platform, MES system, in addition to these three categories, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, knowledge work automation and other technology providers will also face great prospects for development.