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Estun was among the many many firms exhibiting humanoid robots at CIIF in China. Credit score: Georg Stieler
Over the previous three years, greater than half of the world’s robots have been bought in China. Whereas not traditionally seen as a technological chief in robotics, China is more and more setting international tendencies on this {industry}. Georg Stieler, head of robotics and automation and managing director for Asia at STM Stieler Verwaltungs-GmbH, shared his impressions from this yr’s China Worldwide Trade Truthful, or CIIF, in Shanghai.
CIIF was packed, regardless of a gross sales slowdown
Whilst China is going through its worst financial sentiment in 20 years, CIIF was vibrant and stuffed with vitality. We estimate a 20% drop in industrial robotic gross sales within the first half of the yr—primarily as a result of a cooling funding increase in electrical automobiles, batteries, and photovoltaics
Nonetheless, there are shiny spots within the nation‘s market: 3C (computer systems, communication, and shopper electronics) is gaining in significance once more. Additionally, collaborative robots are on a development path, pushed by purposes in electrical automobile manufacturing and inspection.
Robotic producer reveals present key themes at CIIF
The main robotics producers centered on the next key themes on the exhibition:
- FANUC offered purposes for battery manufacturing, reducing, portray, palletizing, and semiconductor manufacturing, in addition to dynamic makes use of of cobots. Nonetheless, because the market statistics recommend, the Japanese firm is going through challenges as a result of to its excessive value ranges in contrast with native rivals within the latter section.
- ESTUN showcased its broad product vary and industry-specific options, notably within the battery, photo voltaic, and automotive sectors. The Chinese language firm featured cobots extra prominently than in 2023.
- KUKA and ABB demonstrated purposes that spotlight the technical strengths of their robots and differentiate them from native rivals. ABB launched the Extremely Accuracy characteristic for its GoFa cobot for ultra-precise purposes within the electronics, automotive, aerospace, and metalworking industries.
As well as, exhibitors highlighted the next matters on the occasion in China:
Cobots in EV manufacturing
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Meeting and inspection purposes in batteries and electrical automobiles have turn out to be a serious development driver for cobot gross sales. Common Robots, Aubo, JAKA Robotics, and Flexiv prominently offered their respective programs for this area.
Cobots with 30-40 kg payload
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Full palletizing programs, together with cameras, grippers, and software program, begin at €12,000 ($13,157 U.S.) — considerably lower than comparable choices in Europe or the U.S. Pictured above is a FANUC system on the higher finish of the worth vary.
Clever welding options
Credit score: Georg Stieler
3D cameras and automatic path planning have been featured by all main cobot producers. QJAR, a home provider, offered a large-scale welding system for metal buildings and claimed to have bought 2,000 robots in a single batch, doubling its gross sales.
Heavy load robots take to the ground at CIIF
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Accordingly, FANUC, ESTUN, ABB, Yaskawa, and others demonstrated their capabilities on this area. Mech-Thoughts demonstrated a product to streamline battery pack meeting utilizing 3D cameras and clever path planning.
We anticipate robots with payloads of 300 kg (661.3 lb.) and better for use in additional palletizing purposes inside industries similar to chemical substances, meals and beverage, in addition to warehousing and logistics.
Pc imaginative and prescient and AI
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Mech-Thoughts present its enhancements for dealing with shiny and reflective surfaces, in addition to its personal giant language mannequin (LLM) interface. HIKVISION highlighted 3D-guided welding and superior inspection duties and co-exhibited an built-in inspection answer with ESTUN. Agilebots and Micro-Intelligence, a start-up, offered a mannequin during which robots assembled constructing blocks autonomously.
Superior tactile intelligence
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Flexiv and JAKA confirmed superior wire-harnessing purposes, counting on pressure sensors and dynamic pressure management.
Inovance shows ambitions at CIIF
Credit score: Georg Stieler
Inovance, often called the “little Huawei,” offered its industrial robots in an automotive body-in-white setting (see above). After taking market share from established Japanese gamers within the SCARA section, this highlighted the Shenzhen, China-based firm‘s ambition in multi-axis robotics.
Robots presently contribute lower than 5% to Inovance’s income, however given its sturdy place in industrial automation, this might change rapidly. Inovance’s real-time synchronous industrial wi-fi module provided a glimpse into its imaginative and prescient for the longer term.
Humanoid robots ubiquitous at CIIF
ESTUN, JAKA, and plenty of different firms offered humanoid robots. Up to now, they serve extra as proof of Chinese language corporations’ capabilities to churn out new {hardware} rapidly.
Even the extra promising fashions are nonetheless years away from profitable commercialization.
Who will nonetheless be round in two to 3 years?
The robotics sector stays scorching in China, however many firms at CIIF, regardless of their giant cubicles, usually are not but worthwhile. The query stays: who will nonetheless be round in two or three years?
Inovance and ESTUN stood out, however the future is much less sure for others.
Overseas firms should turn out to be extra Chinese language to achieve success
Overseas corporations face challenges on this aggressive surroundings. Increased costs are one hurdle; one other is the dearth of native engineering capability. Particular requests despatched to Europe are sometimes delayed or misplaced.
Common Robots simply signed a strategic partnership with Gree Clever Tools in Zhuhai to deal with these points.
On September 25, 2024, Gree Clever Tools and Common Robots formally signed a strategic cooperation settlement in Zhuhai to ascertain a strategic partnership. 🤝#GreeGlobal #GreeIntelligentEquipment pic.twitter.com/YkldQqvOeq
— GreeGlobal (@G_zhuhai) September 27, 2024
Whereas Western politicians name for decoupling, many European firms are doing the alternative, rising their sourcing from China for better flexibility and quicker product improvement.
Automotive suppliers are even adopting “Go East” methods to scale back funding prices in Europe by sourcing machines and robots from China.
Home market has a blended outlook
Whereas some anticipate a gross sales pickup in the direction of the top of the yr, others stay pessimistic.
Nonetheless, even when the Chinese language market shrinks by 20% this yr, it would nonetheless be 5 instances the dimensions of the U.S. market and 3 times the dimensions of the EU’s.
Chinese language robotics firms push overseas
One factor is for certain: Intense competitors within the home market, attractively priced merchandise, and a strong ecosystem quickly producing new programs at unmatched pace and price are driving China’s robotics {industry}. With in depth utility data from the world’s main manufacturing hub, Chinese language robotics firms are increasing overseas.
Anticipate to see a lot extra of them in Asia, the EU, and the U.S. As I end this abstract, Inovance has simply introduced plans to exhibit its industrial robots at SPS in Nuremberg, Germany, this coming November.
Concerning the creator
Georg Stieler is managing director for Asia at worldwide consulting agency STM Stieler.
Editor’s observe: This text is reposted with permission from the creator.
