ABB Strengthens China Robotics Leadership With Three New Robot Families

• Robot families to meet growing demand in high-growth segments across China, in line with ABB’s ‘local for local’ strategy
• Covering essential tasks from material handling to high-end applications including dispensing and polishing
• All powered by OmniCore controller platform for seamless integration
• Manufactured at ABB Robotics’ state-of-the-art Shanghai Mega Factory, reinforcing local investment and ABB’s full value chain in China

ABB is expanding its portfolio with three new robot families to support China’s ongoing expansion in advanced manufacturing, building on 30 years of robotics leadership in the country.

Manufactured at ABB’s Robotics’ state-of-the-art 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 the most 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.^*

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 seamless 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.

New AI-powered innovations extend China technology leadership
All three robot families are powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, ensuring seamless integration and providing access to ABB’s industry-leading software suite, including RobotStudio.

ABB’s launch event in Shanghai featured a pioneering, 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 simple steps: ‘see, speak, do,’ with the robot visually perceiving its environment, processing verbal instructions in real time, and immediately translating them into precise actions.

China is the world’s largest robotics market and accounted for more than half of global robot installations in 2023^**. With over 90 percent of ABB robots for Chinese customers now manufactured locally, the launch is part of ABB’s commitment to China's advanced manufacturing transformation.

^*ABB Estimates, in USD

^**IFR, 2024