① Many companies participating in the performance briefing indicated that the core or most supply chain links have achieved localization, and a small number of links that still require imports are actively planning localization solutions; ② In terms of the overall robot industry, the industrial robot market is currently highly competitive, and it is expected that in 2024 there will be situations of "increased volume without increased revenue, and increased revenue without increased profit."
According to the Star Daily on May 7 (Reporter Huang Xiumei), the 2024 annual performance briefing for the robot industry on the Star was held yesterday afternoon (May 6), attended by Guangzhou Risong Intelligent Technology Holding, Kinco Automation (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd, Efort, Aobo Zhongguang, and Bluesword Intelligent Technology.
Reporters from the Star Daily attended the event online through the Shanghai Stock Exchange Roadshow Center and questioned the companies of interest regarding the localization of their supply chains, the latest developments in business for 2025, future operation plans, end market demand, and the latest trends in the industry.
Many companies have achieved localization of their core supply chains.
What is the localization rate of the robot supply chain? Has the tariff policy affected the company? The chairman and general manager of the leading industrial robot company Efort, You Wei, stated in an interview with reporters from the Star Daily that the localization rate of the company's key components has reached over 95%, with the self-sufficiency rate of controllers reaching over 99%, and only a small number of components are imported.
"The increase in the localization and self-sufficiency rates of key components has a significant impact on the company's supply chain security, cost reduction, and expense control. The company focuses on developing localized supply chains during new product development and existing product iterations to continuously improve the localization rate of related core components," You Wei stated.
Guangzhou Risong Intelligent Technology Holding is a system solution provider focusing on robots, machine vision, industrial software, and intelligent manufacturing. The company's chairman and president, Sun Zhiqiang, responded that Risong Technology currently still relies primarily on imported products for certain robots and control systems, while most other links have achieved localized supply and independent production.
Sun Zhiqiang further mentioned, "Currently, there is a favorable opportunity to further enhance localization in the manufacturing industry supply chain, and some of the company's clients advocate for on-site production lines. If domestic robot technology can meet the requirements, the company will gradually proceed with localization in the future."
Tang Dong, Chairman and General Manager of Kinco Automation (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd, a supplier of industrial mobile robots and low-voltage servo systems, mentioned that the company's import ratio of raw materials is currently low, with most materials sourced domestically. For the portion of raw materials sourced through imports, the company has corresponding localization plans.
Huang Yuanhao, Chairman and General Manager of Orbbec, a 3D visual perception R&D company, stated that after years of technical breakthroughs and vertical integration of the Industry Chain, Orbbec has established a 3D visual perception technology system with "full-stack technical R&D capability + comprehensive technical route layout," forming a self-controllable system covering core technologies and supply chain.
"The company has achieved a complete technical closed loop from the underlying chip architecture, core algorithm development, integrated optical engine to upper application solutions, and can realize domestic adaptation in key supply chain links, forming technical barriers and ecological moats, and has become one of the few global solution providers with complete independent intellectual property rights," said Huang Yuanhao.
Wu Yaohua, Chairman of Bluesword Intelligent Technology, a provider of smart logistics system solutions, also told the Star Daily reporter that Bluesword's procurement has basically achieved localization, and the raw material supply chain remains stable. Currently, the tariffs for exported clients are generally borne by the clients, and the tariff policy has no direct impact on the company.
The industrial robot industry is highly competitive.
It is worth mentioning that as a highly market-focused sector, how is the overall situation in the robot industry currently, and what new project developments does the company have for 2025? All participating companies at the earnings briefing responded.
You Wei, Chairman and General Manager of Efort, indicated that according to the demand opportunity forecast analysis for the downstream industries of industrial robots by Rui Industrial MIR, new growth opportunities are expected to emerge in 2025 across industries such as 3C electronics, automotive and auto parts, automotive electronics, Lithium Battery, Semiconductors, home appliances, and Metal Products.
"To support market expansion, Efort will launch heavy-duty robots and heavy-duty SCARA platform products, further improving the company's robot product portfolio," You Wei specifically mentioned. "Furthermore, the company is promoting the transition of robots from 'Special Equipment' to 'General Intelligentsia.'"
It is worth mentioning that Efort also noted in its 2024 report that according to Rui Industry's statistics, the Chinese industrial robot market is under pressure in 2024, with an annual sales growth rate of only 3.9%. Although the domestic robot market share has achieved significant growth, the robot industry in 2024 has encountered a situation of 'increased sales without increased revenue and increased revenue without increased profit.'
When asked by a reporter from the Star Daily, Wu Yaohua, Chairman of Bluesword Intelligent Technology, stated that from an overall perspective, the industry is currently highly competitive, and downstream demand is clearly customized. Enterprises with technological innovation advantages can still maintain a better profit level, while companies with weak product innovation capabilities and high homogenization face significant operational pressures.
Regarding whether Bluesword Intelligent Technology has plans to further develop humanoid robots, Wu Yaohua responded that the underlying technologies for intelligent logistics robots and humanoid robots are interrelated, and the company has already implemented thousands of AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) deployment projects.
In response to whether the company has further plans in the field of humanoid robots, Tang Dong, Chairman and General Manager of Kinco Automation (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd, stated, 'Currently, humanoid robot technology is at a key breakthrough stage in transitioning from the laboratory to practical applications, gradually achieving mass production. All key technologies are continuously iterating and upgrading, and Electric Machines and drives are just one of the key components of humanoid robots. The maturity of humanoid robots requires the joint efforts of multiple Industry Chains.'
Tang Dong expressed that Kinco Automation (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd has actively laid out plans in the humanoid robot sector, providing frameless torque motors and joint module platform components for humanoid robots, and has established cooperation with some leading domestic humanoid robot clients, forming bulk Orders.
Tang Dong further disclosed that, 'Currently, the fourth generation frameless torque motor is under development, and will be further optimized in terms of weight, process, and cost. Meanwhile, following the fourth generation, the new generation of products has already begun preliminary research, all of which are to make more adequate preparations for future performance enhancement and cost-effectiveness.'
