ABB has announced the launch of three new robot families designed to support the continued growth of advanced manufacturing sectors in China.
The move aligns with the company’s ‘local for local’ strategy, which emphasises regional production and supply chain integration.
The robots, Lite+, IRB 1200 (new generation), and PoWa, are being manufactured at ABB’s Shanghai Mega Factory.
They are intended to meet a range of automation demands in high-growth industries such as electronics, consumer goods, and general manufacturing.
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All three models are powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, which allows integration with AI, sensor technology, and cloud and edge computing systems.
The expansion comes as China continues to be the world’s largest robotics market. According to industry data, the country’s mid-market robotics segment grew at a compound annual growth rate of 24% between 2021 and 2024 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8% through 2028.
The Lite+ is a small robot designed for material handling and pick-and-place operations. It is targeted at smaller operators in Asia and can be integrated with other IRB robots to provide flexible production solutions.
PoWa is a collaborative robot (cobot) that operates at speeds of up to 5.8 m/s. It is designed for tasks such as palletising and machine tending. Featuring no-code programming and plug-and-play setup, it is marketed as suitable for rapid deployment by SMEs.
Finally, IRB 1200 (new generation) is a redesigned version of ABB’s existing robot. It is intended for use in high-speed, high-precision tasks, including assembly and dispensing.
As of 2023, more than 90% of ABB robots sold to Chinese customers are produced locally, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to China’s industrial development.
Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, said: “We are driving adoption of advanced manufacturing in new segments and supporting the next wave of industrial innovation in China and beyond.”
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