The transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing sector, rising labor costs, and a growing labor shortage have all become key drivers behind the rapid development of the industrial robot industry. The era of robotics in China is now fully underway.
[Image: A photo showing industrial robots in action.]
As the world’s largest market for industrial robots, China has seen remarkable growth in the sector. In 2017, the industry experienced particularly strong growth, with annual output expected to surpass 120,000 units, accounting for roughly one-third of global production. Luo Junjie, deputy director of the Department of Equipment Industry at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, announced these figures at the recent China Robot Industry Development Conference in Chongqing.
The China Robot Industry Development Conference, organized by the China Robotics Industry Alliance, is the most authoritative and professional annual event in the Chinese robotics sector. It brings together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the future of robotics in China.
"In the past, we focused on three- or four-axis robots, or those with steel frames. Now, multi-joint robots have taken a dominant position, increasing by 7 percentage points compared to the same period in 2016," said Qu Daokui, chairman of the China Robotics Industry Alliance and president of Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation Co., Ltd., during an interview on January 4, 2018. He emphasized that domestic robot sales from 2015 to 2017 reflect the gradual influence of national policies, leading to the development of more advanced and high-end robotic systems.
China's robot market is projected to account for 40% of the global market by 2020, with an annual growth rate of 20–25% between 2018 and 2020. Zhou Chunhua, Deputy General Manager of the Aston Group, highlighted the immense potential of the Chinese market, estimating that by 2020, the country will need 210,000 robots.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to November 2017, China produced 118,000 industrial robots, marking a year-on-year increase of 68.8%. This growth is largely due to the expanding application scenarios of industrial robots across various industries.
One surprising example is the brewing industry. At the Luzhou-flavor culture summit in Yibin, Wu Liangye's honorary chairman, Wang Guochun, noted that traditional winemaking relies heavily on human expertise. To ensure temperature stability during fermentation, intelligent robots are being introduced. Xu Jianshui, chairman of Wuhan Jinjin Intelligent Machine Co., Ltd., explained that his company has developed specialized brewing robots, not just for handling or palletizing, but for precise and consistent processes.
Shen Xiandong, general manager of Zhuhai Gree Robot Co., Ltd., emphasized the importance of exploring new fields and developing innovative solutions through robotics. "Robots are no longer limited to high-end industries like automotive manufacturing. They are now present in almost every sector of the manufacturing industry, which lays the foundation for future breakthroughs," said Qu Dao-kui.
Industrial robots are now widely used in sectors such as hardware, sanitary ware, furniture, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Beyond manufacturing, service robots and special-purpose robots are also making their mark in medical rehabilitation, rescue operations, and even family assistance. For instance, "Xiao Medical" robots have passed clinical practice exams and represent a new generation of advanced orthopedic robots.
In 2017, domestic industrial robots served 37 categories of the national economy and over 100 industries. The automotive, electronics, and machinery sectors accounted for the largest share of robot sales, with percentages of 17.3%, 15.1%, 13.4%, and 10.2% respectively.
Despite significant progress, challenges remain. While China has made strides in key components and technologies, there is still a gap compared to developed countries. The robot industry chain lacks some critical links, and standardization, testing, and certification systems need further improvement.
To address this, the National Standards Committee, along with several government departments, issued the "Guidelines for the Construction of a National Robot Standards System" in May 2017. Later that year, the "China Robot Standardization White Paper" was released, offering guidance for the development of a comprehensive standardization strategy.
With the revised "Standardization Law of the People’s Republic of China," group standards have gained legal recognition, enhancing the supply of market-driven standards. At the 2017 conference, three new alliance standards were introduced, including safety requirements for flying robots and general technical specifications for vision-based industrial robot systems.
Looking ahead, the goal is to establish around 60 national and industry standards by 2018, and a more complete system by 2020, with approximately 100 standards in place. These efforts will help shape a more robust and standardized robotic industry in China.
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