Battle of the machines: Chinese robot makers take on foreign peers

By Ma Si and Tian Xuefei (China Daily) Updated: 2016-01-28 11:20

ABB is a multinational company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, focused on the power and automation industries as well as robotics. With more than four decades of experience, ABB Robotics is a global leader in the manufacture of industrial robots.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

But local enterprises are already accelerating steps to boost their capability in research and development as well as small-scale production of key robot components. Shaanxi Qinchuan Machinery Development Co Ltd, for instance, has poured 194 million yuan in 2013 into a robot speed reducer project, which can now produce 500 to 700 units per month.

"We are working on a mass production assembly line project. When completed, it will boost monthly production capacity to 5,000 units by the end of 2016," the company said in a press release in November.

Siasun also expanded its presence in the niche by setting up a unit in May 2015.