【Company Interview】With Original Intent as Its Foundation, Zhi Yao Warmly Enters a New Era of Human-Machine Collaboration

With the rapid advancement of smart automation, the cleaning industry is also undergoing a major transformation. AI CLEAN, known for offering the most comprehensive lineup of smart cleaning machines in Taiwan, embraces the vision of being “the Best Broker in Smart Cleaning Solutions.” Beyond introducing advanced equipment, the company is committed to fostering human–machine collaboration—enabling hardworking cleaning professionals to truly experience the convenience of technology while enhancing efficiency and quality.

This time, King One Design had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Andy Wang, General Manager of AI CLEAN, who shared with us the company’s founding vision, product differentiation, exhibition highlights, as well as its future strategies and mission.

【Company Profile】

Company: ZHI YAO Co., Ltd. (AI CLEAN) 

Interviewee: Andy Wang, General Manager

Overview: Specializing in the promotion and application of smart cleaning solutions, AI CLEAN positions itself as “the Best Broker in the Cleaning Industry.” By introducing state-of-the-art international equipment and offering Taiwan’s most complete range of smart cleaning machines, AI CLEAN integrates AI technology with human–machine collaboration to help enterprises and public spaces improve cleaning efficiency and quality, reduce labor burdens, and pave the way for a smarter and more sustainable future in cleaning.

Q: Could you briefly introduce ZHI YAO (AI CLEAN) and share what differentiated value you aim to bring to the market in the smart cleaning sector?

A: ZHI YAO Company Limited, a distributor of 3M water purifiers, officially entered the smart cleaning sector three years ago by introducing commercial and industrial cleaning robots and establishing the AI CLEAN brand.

The inspiration for the brand came from a real-life experience of its chairman. A dedicated philanthropist, he moved into a new home and served as the first head of the building's management committee. Witnessing the cleaning staff's hard work, he began to wonder, "Is there a more technological and less labor-intensive way to help them?" This led him to resolve to give back to society through technology.

While AI CLEAN emphasizes "unmanned" and "automation," its core philosophy has always been "human-robot collaboration."

Robots significantly reduce manual labor and boost efficiency, yet detailed areas like corners and edges still require human attention.
Through this division of labor, cleaning staff can complete their tasks more easily and reduce physical strain, a particularly important consideration given that many cleaning professionals are older. This approach is AI CLEAN's original intention: to make cleaning smarter, more efficient, and more humane.

Q: What is the core focus of the brand's exhibition at the Taipei International Automation Exhibition?

At this year's Taipei International Automation Exhibition, ZHI YAO showcased the industry's most complete product line under the core theme of being a "comprehensive cleaning solutions provider." Ranging from small, medium, and large to outdoor robots, we are dedicated to providing the most suitable cleaning partners for all types of venues. For example, at the Taipei Dome, we supplied both outdoor and large-scale indoor robots, perfectly demonstrating our integrated solutions. The outdoor robots, in particular, can utilize GPS and RTK for precise positioning and can even clean roads, showcasing unparalleled high performance and intelligent applications.

In addition, we specially unveiled our newly launched MIX1 compact model. This product, a winner of the German iF Design Award, attracted significant attention with its live demonstration. The MIX1 achieves a rare "six-in-one" full-function integration, combining sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dust mopping, disinfecting, and self-cleaning. Users can easily complete multiple cleaning tasks without changing modules, which significantly reduces the burden on cleaning staff.

Through this exhibition, we hope to convey not just ZHI YAO's technical prowess, but also our genuine dedication to smart cleaning. We firmly believe that the ultimate purpose of technology is to serve people, making cleaning work easier and more efficient, and together creating a cleaner and better life.

Q: At the exhibition, were there any interactions or feedback that left a particularly strong impression on you?

A: The most exciting part of this exhibition was having representatives from the original manufacturer assist us on-site, where we had the opportunity to meet a European client from Poland. This client traveled a long way and spent over two hours each day engaging in in-depth discussions at our booth for two consecutive days. This not only demonstrates the appeal of our products but also shows that ZHI YAO’s efforts in Taiwan can attract international attention. This special recognition was an immense encouragement for us.

At the exhibition, we successfully connected with several Taiwanese distributors, which is crucial for our brand's future strategy. We hope to find more like-minded partners to bring our smart cleaning solutions to a greater number of end-users through their professional services.

Furthermore, we discovered exciting collaboration opportunities, including with purchasing managers from numerous chain restaurant groups. Initially, their understanding of cleaning equipment was vague, but after a personal tour and explanation, they were surprised to learn that our robots could effectively solve their specific cleaning pain points. This experience made us realize that we must proactively create and communicate many potential needs—a goal we will continue to pursue in the future.

Q: Did collaborating with King One Design on the exhibition booth help convey your brand’s core values?

King One Design did a fantastic job this time; the entire booth design felt both comfortable and professional.

In technology exhibitions, design plays a crucial role. It’s more than just a backdrop—it's a concrete representation of a brand's spirit and philosophy. This design successfully conveyed our core philosophy of being "smart, efficient, and professional." Good design isn't just about visual aesthetics; it also ensures a fluid layout, allowing visitors to move through the space comfortably. We particularly liked the streamlined wave design on top and the alternating blue and white color scheme. This combination made the whole space both comfortable and professional, avoiding a gaudy or monotonous feel.

At the same time, this also echoes our brand logo—the striking red rhino. The chairman has a particular fondness for rhinos because they are strong and fearless, which perfectly aligns with the philosophy behind our robots: “Strong and powerful, durable and unbreakable.” This playful Taiwanese pun, along with humorous exhibition copy such as “Super Rhino Vision,” successfully drew attention and made the brand image more vivid and memorable.

Q: What are the future strategic directions for the brand? Do you plan to incorporate more automation features?

A: ZHI YAO’s current development strategy focuses on deepening our presence in the Taiwan market. We operate through an agency model, offering multi-brand, full-range product lines. This approach is not only more cost-effective than developing and manufacturing in-house, but also helps diversify risk, ensuring we can meet a wide variety of cleaning needs.

Looking ahead, we continue to monitor the development of automation technologies, especially the trend of human–machine collaboration. We firmly believe that humans and robots are not in competition, but are complementary. Robots can take on physically demanding tasks, while humans can focus their energy on more valuable and efficient work, as well as provide professional cleaning and maintenance for the robots.

The best example of this collaborative approach is our successful case at Miaoli Shang Shun Shopping Center. Initially, the cleaning staff were hesitant about using robots, but after experiencing the convenience and labor-saving benefits firsthand, they not only embraced them but even treated the robots with care, almost like pets.

This transformation—from hesitation to trust—is exactly the ultimate goal of our human–machine collaboration. Looking ahead, we hope to introduce more advanced humanoid robots to handle currently challenging tasks in hard-to-reach areas, truly addressing all of our clients’ cleaning pain points.