Visitors look at a "robot astronaut" at the 17th China International Industry Fair, which opened in Shanghai on Tuesday.Some of the best examples of China's smart manufacturing technologies will go on show at the event.(Photo: Shanghaidaily/Dong Jun)
China will display its latest expertise in smart manufacturing in robots, environmental protection equipment, new-energy cars and aviation products under the "Made in China 2025" blueprint at an industrial fair.
The main theme of this year's China International Industry Fair is centered around innovative, intelligent and green manufacturing in line with China's first 10-year plan to elevate its low-cost manufacturing to one that is highly advanced and value-added.
The annual fair, which opened in Shanghai on Tuesday and will end on Saturday, is an important platform for companies to release their newest products and solutions.
ABB on Tuesday unveiled its largest robot — IRB 8700 — to address demand from the automobile industry. The robot, with a reach of 3.5 meters, is able to handle a maximum payload of 800 kilograms.
The robot with one motor and fewer components will cost less to maintain.
The Swiss robotics specialist also displayed another star robot, the agile human-shaped YuMi, which made its debut at last year's event.
Pekka Tiitinen, head of the discrete automation and motion division at ABB, told Shanghai Daily that one of the features of modern manufacturing is that humans can work hand in hand with robots.
KUKA, a German rival of ABB in robotics, yesterday released its KR CYTEC nano series which focuses on a low payload category of 6-10 kilograms and is very suitable in small spaces. This series of robots will help in the assembly of small components or welding work.
"We have significantly reduced the disruptive contours of the robot, while the streamlined design of the wrist ensures better accessibility, even in confined workspaces," said Markus Hollfelder-Asam, product manager at KUKA.
China is now the world's largest and fastest growing robotics market. Last year, over 57,000 industrial robots were sold in China, a rise of 56 percent year on year and taking up 25 percent of the total global sales.
However, there are only 36 industrial robots for every 10,000 workers in China, far below the global average of 66.
Robotics was listed as one of the 10 key industries under the "Made in China 2025" blueprint. China will boost the development of robotic software and the robotic industry in general.
Shanghai is pioneering scientific and technological innovation in developing an innovation-led economy in China. The city has nearly a quarter of the country's total number of research and development centers set up by multinational corporations.
The proportion of Shanghai's investment in R&D in the city's gross domestic product increased to 3.6 percent in 2014 from 2.8 percent in 2010.
