New Robot Families Support China

ABB is expanding its portfolio with three new robot families to support China’s ongoing expansion in manufacturing. Manufactured at ABB’s Robotics’ Shanghai Mega Factory, the new robot families address a wide range of automation needs in high growth sectors including electronics, consumer industries and general industries – from essential material handling to high-end applications like dispensing and polishing. All are powered by ABB Robotics’ OmniCore single control platform that enables the full integration of AI, sensor, cloud and edge computing systems to create advanced and autonomous robotic applications. This strategic expansion comes as China’s mid-market robotics segment has grown at a 24 % CAGR between 2021 and 2024, with the market expected to continue growing at 8 % annually through 2028.

“China is the world’s largest robotics market and for ABB Robotics. China’s growth in sectors such as electronics and from small and medium sized businesses is driving the increasing demand for accessible, user-friendly solutions, and we are responding to that demand” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation Business Area. “With our new robot families, we are not only expanding what is already the most comprehensive and integrated offering in the market, but we are helping new industries and customers automate with new mid-market value propositions.”

ABB’s new robot families

Lite+

Designed for essential material handling and pick-and-place operations, Lite+ is compact, easy to use and lowers the barriers to automation for smaller operators. Available in China and Asia, its integration with the new IRB 1200 and other IRB robots provides flexible, end-to-end production solutions for industries including electronics manufacturing.

PoWa

PoWa is a compact cobot built for speed, collaboration and efficiency. With industrial-level speeds of up to 5.8 m/s, it is ideal for fast pick-and-place, palletizing, and machine-tending tasks. Available in China, PoWa’s no-code programming and plug-and-play capabilities mean it can be operational within 60 minutes of unboxing, making it particularly attractive to SMEs.

IRB 1200 (New Generation)

The redesigned IRB 1200, available globally, is optimized for high-speed, high-precision applications including assembly, polishing, and dispensing. Approximately 20 % lighter and more compact than its predecessor, the IRB 1200 enables manufacturers to create space-efficient production cells, boosting throughput and operational efficiency.

All three robot families are powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, ensuring integration and providing access to ABB’s industry-leading software suite, including RobotStudio. ABB’s launch event in Shanghai featured an  AI-driven natural language software tool for teaching robots, using its new PoWa collaborative robot. Combining generative and analytical AI, the technology speeds up the teaching process for robots using three steps: ‘see, speak, do,’ with the robot visually perceiving its environment, processing verbal instructions in real time, and immediately translating them into precise actions.

(Source: ABB Ltd.)