China leads in robotics patents, applications

Henan Daily

Zhengzhou: Robots play a significant role in emerging technologies and are key equipment for modern industries. The application of robots in China’s manufacturing sector has accelerated, according to a report from the International Federation of Robotics. As of 2023, there are 470 robots for every 10,000 employees in China, more than twice the density recorded in 2019. This increase has elevated China to third place globally in robot density.

At the 2024 World Robot Conference held in August, robots developed in China were demonstrated. Examples included an industrial humanoid robot capable of identifying automated guided vehicles and handling boxes weighing up to 15 kilograms. Another showcased robot, designed for slurry spraying, can autonomously navigate and plan operational paths, significantly improving efficiency in underground operations.

China has become the world’s largest market and producer of robots, holding more than 190,000 valid patents in robotics, which account for approximately two-thirds of the global total. The country has been the largest market for industrial robots for 11 consecutive years, with over half of the world’s newly installed units of the past three years deployed in China.

The robotics industry in China has also expanded in scale and capabilities. Collaborative efforts among upstream and downstream enterprises have streamlined production. For instance, a robot entirely manufactured in the Yangtze River Delta can be completed in just 12 minutes at the Shanghai STEP Robotics Super Factory, with bearings from Wenzhou, servo motors from Quzhou and harmonic reducers from Suzhou. Advances in technology, such as multi-source information fusion and human-machine interaction, along with self-sufficiency in critical components like reducers, controllers and servo systems, have further strengthened the industry.

The increase in robot density is closely tied to the growth of the robotics industry and the scale of China’s manufacturing sector.

On the production line at HBIS Group’s Shijiazhuang Iron & Steel Company, 38 robots work together to perform tasks like dismantling, grinding, bundling, labeling and warehousing.

In the Gree Air Conditioning Workshop in Zhuhai, robots handle every stage of production and delivery, from component installation, screw fixing to product inspection.

Similarly at Dongfang Turbine’s automated production line for turbine blades, robots and unmanned transport vehicles maintain 24-hour operations, achieving 90 percent equipment use.

China’s manufacturing sector, which has ranked first globally for 14 consecutive years in scale, is transitioning towards high-end, intelligent and environmentally friendly operations. This shift has created a wide range of scenarios for the application of robotic products. Data shows that industrial robots now serve 60 major industry categories and 168 medium categories in the national economy.

The development of the robotics industry has been supported by government policies and initiatives.

On the supply side, measures include plans to advance core technologies, strengthen industrial foundations and improve supply capabilities. On the demand side, a national equipment renewal program has increased the need for robotics across sectors. In the first eight months of the year, investment in equipment and tools rose by 16.8 percent, outpacing overall investment growth by 13.4 percentage points.

Estun Automation, a leading Chinese manufacturer of automation products, has witnessed improving market conditions. In the third quarter of this year, the company’s robot orders increased year-on-year and month-on-month, and annual output is expected to rise from 25,000 units last year to 30,000 units.

Industrial and service robots are demonstrating their capabilities, with applications expanding in agriculture, trade logistics, and healthcare. Beyond manufacturing, robots continuously empower various sectors, and the “robot+” application system is being refined further.

China’s robot density ranked among the global top 10 in 2019 and has risen to the top three within four years. The future of robotics in the country remains to be seen, as advancements and applications continue to evolve.