Robots will create more robots at a $ 150 million ABB plant in Shanghai in 2020- Technology News, Firstpost
Robots will make robots at a new factory ABB in China, as the Swiss engineering group said on October 27, plans to build $ 150 million in Shanghai as it defends its place as the country's largest manufacturer of industrial robots.
The factory, located near ABB's Chinese robotics campus, will operate by the end of 2020 and will produce robots for China and for export elsewhere in Asia. China is ABB's No. 2 market after the United States.
"Shanghai has become an important center for advanced technology management, for ABB and the world," said Ulrich Spiesshofer, ABB leader, in a statement about the project.
Humanoid Robot YuMi performs Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra. Image: Reuters
With the expansion, ABB is banking on the sale of Chinese robots, which combats concerns about trade tensions with the United States, that some fears can lead to demand for electronics, auto parts and other objects that require automated production and robots.
China expands its workforce as wages for human workers rise and the country seeks to compete with lower costs through greater automation. In 2017 one of the three robots sold in the world went to China, which bought almost 138,000 units, ABB said.
ABB's new 75,000 square meter factory will use software designed to allow people and robots to work safely nearby, says the company and adds its YuMi robots – designed to work side by side with people – will also be deployed on many of the small parts needed to create an ABB robot.
Rival Kuka taken over by China's Midea in 2016, has also expanded in the country, including building a robot park in Shunde near Hong Kong.
ABB, whose industrial robots are used for building cars as well as collecting electronic devices, will build robots for a number of industries in the Shanghai factory, a spokesman said.
It did not give a new employee count for the factory, but said it would increase the robots' employment, now sitting at more than 2000 ABB cups in China.
