[ad_1]
Robots will make robots at a new ABB The Swiss engineering group announced on October 27 its intention to build $ 150 million in Shanghai to defend its position as the country's leading manufacturer of industrial robots.
The plant, located near China's ABB robotics campus in China, is expected to be operational by the end of 2020 and will produce robots for China as well as for export elsewhere in Asia. China is ABB's second largest market after the United States.
"Shanghai has become a vital hub for advanced technology leadership, for ABB and for the world," said ABB Executive Director Ulrich Spiesshofer in a statement announcing the project.
The humanoid robot YuMi conducts the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra. Image: Reuters
With this expansion, ABB is betting on sales of Chinese robots to counter the tensions related to trade tensions with the United States, which some say could stem demand for electronic products, auto parts and other items requiring automated manufacturing and robots. .
China is increasing its workforce of robots as wages of human workers increase and the country seeks to compete with low-cost countries through greater automation. In 2017, one robot in three sold worldwide went to China, which bought nearly 138,000 units, said ABB.
The new 75,000-square-foot ABB plant will use software designed to allow people and robots to work safely nearby, the company added, adding that its YuMi robots – designed to work side by side with people – will also be deployed on many machines. assembly tasks of small parts necessary for the manufacture of an ABB robot.
Rival Kuka, acquired in 2016 by the Chinese company Midea two years ago, has also expanded in the country, including building a robot park in Shunde near Hong Kong.
ABB, whose industrial robots are used, inter alia, for the construction of automobiles and assembly of electronic devices, will build robots for many industries at the Shanghai factory, has said a spokesman.
He did not give any number of employees to the plant, but said it would increase employment in robotics, which now has more than 2,000 ABB workers in China.
[ad_2]
Source link
