Robots getting serious in China

The company took the plunge, setting up Kekun (Kunshan) Automation, a manufacturing company mainly dedicated to robotics, to serve Comau's markets in China and around the globe. The factory, of some 20,000 square meters, can produce 9,000 robots a year.

Sack says only about 10 percent of Comau's current business in China is robotics, but its growth has been much quicker than that of other sectors. Last year, robotics sales exceeded 100 million yuan ($16 million).

"The biggest advantage of China is that Chinese are very keen on technological innovation, much keener than Europeans, so they are more willing to try something new," he says. "Last year, basically we tripled our sales, and we think a 30 to 40 percent growth rate is realistic every year."

Wang Guochao, general manager of Comau (Shanghai) Engineering, says more than 70 percent of the robots Comau has sold are used in the automobile industry. The company has been working mainly on producing robots for car companies such as SAIC, Geely, GAC FIAT, Chery and FAW.

However, there is increasing potential for robotics in general industries, which are speeding up automation. Comau has begun to put more emphasis on machines for applications such as food production and electronics manufacturing.

The company has already been asked by some small and mediumsized companies to make robots to their specific needs.

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