ABB Introduces New Robot Families to Enhance China’s Advanced Manufacturing
ABB is broadening its offerings with the introduction of three new families of robots, aimed at supporting China’s ongoing advancements in the field of manufacturing. This move builds upon ABB’s three-decade legacy of robotics leadership within the country. Produced at ABB’s cutting-edge Mega Factory in Shanghai, these new robot families are designed to meet various automation requirements across rapidly growing sectors such as electronics, consumer goods, and general industries. They cater to a spectrum of applications, from fundamental material handling to sophisticated tasks like dispensing and polishing. All robots utilize ABB Robotics’ OmniCore single control platform, which facilitates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, cloud computing, and edge systems to develop highly advanced and autonomous robotic solutions. This strategic initiative coincides with the significant expansion of China’s mid-market robotics sector, which has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% from 2021 to 2024, and is projected to continue growing at an annual rate of 8% through 2028.
ABB’s Response to Growing Demand in China’s Robotics Market
“China holds the title of the largest robotics market globally and is essential for ABB Robotics,” stated Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s robotics and discrete automation division. “The surge in sectors like electronics, along with the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, is fueling the demand for accessible and user-friendly automation solutions. Our response to this demand is reflected in our new robot families.” He emphasized that these additions not only enhance ABB’s already extensive market offerings but also assist new industries and customers in automating processes with innovative mid-market solutions.
Introducing ABB’s New Robot Families
The first of ABB’s new robot families, Lite+, is designed for fundamental material handling and pick-and-place tasks. Its compact design and user-friendly interface aim to lower the barriers for smaller businesses looking to adopt automation. Available in China and across Asia, Lite+ integrates seamlessly with the IRB 1200 and other IRB models, providing flexible production solutions for the electronics manufacturing sector.
The second offering, PoWa, is a compact collaborative robot (cobot) engineered for speed, cooperation, and efficiency. With impressive industrial speeds of up to 5.8 m/s, PoWa excels in fast pick-and-place, palletizing, and machine-tending operations. Its no-code programming and plug-and-play capabilities allow it to be operational within just an hour of unpacking, making it especially appealing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The third entry, the redesigned IRB 1200, is now available worldwide and is fine-tuned for high-speed and high-precision tasks such as assembly, polishing, and dispensing. This new version is approximately 20% lighter and more compact than its predecessor, allowing manufacturers to create more space-efficient production cells that enhance throughput and overall operational efficiency.
Innovative AI-Powered Solutions Reinforcing China’s Technological Edge
Each of these robot families is powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, which ensures seamless integration and offers access to ABB’s leading software suite, including RobotStudio. “With 30 years of robotics expertise in China, we are addressing the evolving needs of customers across new and developing industries with these three robot families,” remarked Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics. “Our flexible, modular, AI-driven technology reduces obstacles to automation and promotes the adoption of advanced manufacturing in various segments, paving the way for the next wave of industrial innovation in China and beyond.”
During a launch event in Shanghai, ABB showcased a groundbreaking AI-driven natural language software tool designed to teach robots, utilizing the new PoWa collaborative robot. This technology combines generative and analytical AI to streamline the robot teaching process into three straightforward steps: ‘see, speak, do.’ This method allows the robot to visually assess its surroundings, process verbal commands in real-time, and convert them into precise actions without delay.
ABB’s Commitment to Robotics Leadership in China
“ABB has been at the forefront of robotics for over five decades, with significant roots in China dating back to 1994,” stated Henry Han, president of robotics in China. “We are dedicated to further advancing our robotics leadership in China, creating solutions for businesses of all sizes by leveraging our complete local manufacturing and research and development capabilities.”
China remains the largest robotics market globally, accounting for more than half of all robot installations worldwide in 2023. With over 90% of ABB robots for Chinese clients produced domestically, this launch represents ABB’s ongoing commitment to support China’s transformation toward advanced manufacturing.
Comment on this article via X: @IoTNow_ and visit our homepage IoT Now.
