ABB is expanding its robotics portfolio with three new robot families designed to bolster China’s growing advanced manufacturing sector.
The new robots – manufactured at ABB’s Shanghai Mega Factory – aim to address automation needs across various high-growth sectors including electronics, consumer industries, and general manufacturing applications.
China’s mid-market robotics segment has expanded at a 24% CAGR between 2021 and 2024. Industry analysts expect the market to continue growing at 8% annually through 2028, making it a key focus for ABB’s latest innovations.
Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation Business Area, said: “China is the world’s largest robotics market and for ABB Robotics. China’s growth in sectors such as electronics and from small and medium sized businesses is driving the increasing demand for accessible, user-friendly solutions, and we are responding to that demand.
“With our new robot families, we are not only expanding what is already the most comprehensive and integrated offering in the market, but we are helping new industries and customers automate with new mid-market value propositions.”
Three new robot families join the ABB portfolio
The three new robot families from ABB each target specific applications and market segments:
- The Lite+ family targets essential material handling and pick-and-place operations. Available in China and across Asia, these compact, user-friendly robots are designed to lower barriers to automation for smaller operators. Their integration capabilities with other ABB robots, including the new IRB 1200, aim to enable flexible end-to-end production solutions particularly suited for electronics manufacturing.
- The PoWa collaborative robot combines speed, collaboration capabilities, and efficiency in a compact form factor. With industrial-level speeds reaching 5.8 m/s, it excels at fast pick-and-place tasks, palletising, and machine-tending. Available exclusively in China, the PoWa features no-code programming and plug-and-play functionality, allowing it to become operational within an hour of unboxing.
- The redesigned IRB 1200, available globally, represents the third new offering. Optimised for high-speed, high-precision applications such as assembly, polishing, and dispensing, this new generation is approximately 20% lighter and more compact than its predecessor. These improvements enable manufacturers to create more space-efficient production cells, enhancing throughput and operational efficiency.
All three of the new robot families operate on ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, which enables full integration of AI, sensor technology, and cloud and edge computing systems.
Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics, commented: “Building on 30 years of robotics leadership in China, we are meeting the needs of customers in new and expanding industries with these three robot families.
“By delivering flexible, modular, AI-powered technology that lowers barriers to automation, we are driving adoption of advanced manufacturing in new segments and supporting the next wave of industrial innovation in China and beyond.”
At the Shanghai launch event, ABB demonstrated an AI-driven natural language software tool that simplifies robot teaching. Using the new PoWa collaborative robot, the system combines generative and analytical AI in a three-step process: ‘See, Speak, Do’. The robot visually perceives its environment, processes verbal instructions in real time, and immediately translates these instructions into precise actions.
ABB has deep robotics roots in China
ABB says it has established a comprehensive local value chain in China, with over 90% of robots for Chinese customers now manufactured domestically.
Henry Han, President of Robotics in China, explained: “ABB has led the way in robotics for more than five decades, with deep roots in China dating back to 1994.
“Today, we continue to expand our robotics leadership in China, for China and beyond, building on our full local value chain of manufacturing, research, and development to deliver groundbreaking solutions for our customers in businesses of all sizes.”
China represents a crucial market for robotics manufacturers, accounting for more than half of global robot installations in 2023. ABB’s expansion comes at a pivotal time as more Chinese industries embrace automation technologies.
By providing accessible solutions for businesses of various sizes, ABB clearly aims to capitalise on the continued growth of China’s robotics sector while supporting the country’s advanced manufacturing evolution.
See also: Meta V-JEPA 2 teaches robots to understand the physical world
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