Tech Innovation + Diverse Scenarios: The Boom of Collaborative Robot Industry at the Right Time

The productronica China, a crucial platform for showcasing and exchanging ideas in the electronic intelligent manufacturing industry, will grandly resume from March 26 to 28, 2025, in Halls E1-E5 & W1-W3 of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). This exhibition will be extensive, covering nearly 100,000 square meters. It is expected to attract nearly 1,000 quality enterprises from the electronics manufacturing industry. They will showcase products and technologies spanning the entire electronic manufacturing supply chain, including electronic and chemical materials, dispensing and gluing technologies, electronic assembly automation, testing, measurement, and quality assurance, electronic manufacturing services, surface mount technology (SMT), harness processing and connector manufacturing, component and part manufacturing, motion control and drive technology, industrial sensors, robotics, and intelligent warehousing, among others.

Globally, the manufacturing industry is undergoing a transformation driven by innovation and energy efficiency. At the core of this transformation lies the application of automation, digitalization, and flexible intelligent equipment. While traditional industrial robots excel in high speed, precision, and heavy load capabilities, they have limitations regarding production line flexibility, reducing user thresholds, and enhancing production efficiency. Collaborative robots, with their safety, ease of use, flexibility, low investment, and quick output characteristics, have become a key factor in enhancing the global market competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises.

Currently, collaborative robots have expanded into high-difficulty applications such as assembly, gluing, welding, and polishing, with the range of application industries continuously growing. According to MIR, it is estimated that the global sales volume of collaborative robots will exceed 70,000 units by 2024, with a year-on-year increase of 30%. In the long term, with technological advancements and diversified solutions, collaborative applications will enter more fields, and the market acceptance of collaborative robots will further increase.

How to stand out with increasing competition? Key factors include technological innovation and diverse scenarios

How to win in the face of fierce market competition? Overall, it can be summarized as technological innovation and diverse scenarios. This involves not only the continuous advancement of robot technology itself but also the integration and application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and big data. This integration enables robots to achieve more efficient remote control and collaborative operations. Additionally, there should be an active expansion of collaborative robot applications and functionalities, transitioning from single-task to multi-task collaboration.

For example, in the industrial sector, with the continuous iteration of collaborative robot technology and the ongoing development of solutions, basic applications such as handling, stacking, and loading/unloading, advanced applications such as assembly, testing, ironing, and screw fastening, as well as high-difficulty applications like curved surface gluing, polishing, welding, spraying, and flexible wiring harness plugging have already attracted the interest of companies for conducting research. This shift also demands that collaborative robots gradually cover a wide range of fields from light to heavy loads and from basic applications to high-difficulty applications at the load end.

Focused on the autonomous research and production of the SIASUN DUCO robots, SIASUN has taken the lead in securing multiple patents through independent research and development. DUCO preserves SIASUN's innovative genes and craftsmanship spirit, deeply integrating shared values into its operational philosophy. As a subsidiary brand of SIASUN specializing in intelligent robots, DUCO has broken foreign technological monopolies in various fields, with all core components independently developed. Widely applied in industries such as automotive, semiconductor, 3C, energy, education innovation, healthcare, food & pharmaceuticals, apparel & textiles, its products effortlessly perform tasks like intelligent picking, stacking, welding, loading/unloading, assembly, screw tightening, polishing, quality inspection, handling, gluing, and oiling.

OMRON Corporation has introduced a new model, TM25S, in its collaborative robot TM S series, with a payload of 25 kg and a working radius of 1,902 mm, further enhancing material handling capabilities to adapt to more complex production environments. The OMRON TM S series collaborative robot also offer various models, including DC power supply, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET versions, ensuring compatibility with different industries and scenarios to achieve efficient human-machine collaboration.

CGXi, as the only company in the industry with dual drivers of "collaborative robots + intelligent automotive components", has established itself as a model and developed a 5G + automotive-grade "industrial control + process" smart manufacturing closed-loop system. It is one of the few companies worldwide that manufacture collaborative robots in compliance with the IATF 16949:2016 international automotive quality system standard. Its research has overcome challenges like integrated joint design, flexible control, force sensing, and collision detection, integrating key core technologies such as robot smooth trajectory planning algorithms, robot force control and hybrid force-position control algorithms, and full closed-loop servo control algorithms. CGXi's three major product series have obtained certifications including China CR, EU CE, SEMI S2, China and European ATEX explosion-proof certifications, and North American NRTL certification. Targeting the "consumer, industrial, and specialty" sectors, these products surpass foreign counterparts in core indicators like motion speed, trajectory accuracy, and mechanical arm rigidity.

ESTUN CODROID will showcase its humanoid robots, collaborative robots, and mobile composite robots, with embodied artificial intelligence software as the core technology. Using humanoid and collaborative robots as product carriers, ESTUN CODROID aims to provide users with next-generation embodied intelligent robot technology and products equipped with coordinated hand-foot-eye-brain sensory control capabilities, delivering more intelligent, precise, and stable solutions for electronic device production lines.


Ingenious and skillful, a supporting industry chain rising with the winds of intelligence

Indeed, with exquisite craftsmanship and innovative design, each powerful industrial robot stands out as a shining star driving the progression of Industry 4.0. However, the often overlooked supporting manufacturers play an equally crucial role. The sensors, servo controllers, end-effector modules, and other core components and modules they provide are like the "senses", "nerves", and "limbs" of robots, granting them the ability for precise perception, flexible control, and efficient operation.

To better adapt to agile, rapid, and secure deployments in flexible manufacturing, collaborative robots are gradually becoming the focus of enterprises. These robots are typically equipped with multi-axis arms and mounted on autonomous mobile platforms, forming highly adaptable combination robots. Sensors serve as crucial windows for robots to gather external information. Whether for high-precision distance detection or complex environment image recognition, their precise collaboration is indispensable. Pepperl+Fuchs sensors can be applied in various AGV scenarios, such as LiDAR sensors and QR code navigation technology for high-precision navigation, monitoring of speed, height, steering angle, and tilt angle, reliable identification of trays and goods, goods transportation, safe control of carrying platforms, distance detection, and collision prevention.

SENPUM specializes in industrial automation product development and solutions, with products covering areas such as sensors, measurement, safety, code reading, and static electricity. Its sensor products mainly include fiber optic, photoelectric, color, laser, proximity, area safety grating, contact displacement, laser displacement, infrared temperature, and ultrasonic sensors; other products include magnetic scales and static eliminators. Its high-precision contact displacement sensor MT1 series can achieve accuracy up to 1 um, with a resolution of 0.1 um, offering multiple ranges to choose from. It is suitable for measuring the height, thickness, flatness, warpage, and shaft diameter of workpieces in contact measurement applications

In battery manufacturing scenarios, CONTROLWAY's high-precision laser displacement sensor achieves online measurement of lithium battery electrode thickness with exceptional performance in super-high speed, high synchronization, high accuracy, and anti-interference capabilities. The accuracy reaches up to 0.01 um. It can reliably measure even at electrode edges, different material junctions, and end thinning areas.

FLEXEM can provide equipment enterprises with a complete set of precise and efficient motion control solutions, ranging from servo and motor at the drive layer to PLC at the control layer, HMI at the display layer, and FBox hardware products at the access layer. For example, its servo product FV5 series is divided into three product series: rotary, direct drive, and full-featured. These products feature powerful performance with high responsiveness, high precision, and high speed, and support multiple advanced algorithm functions such as model tracking, vibration suppression, and adaptive filtering, meeting various customer needs.

Ti5 Robot offers a rich product line covering joint modules, dexterous hands, collaborative robots, and embodied intelligence, among others. With over 50 self-developed lightweight joint module models, it provides a one-stop solution for building robots with different performance and cost profiles. The self-developed ARM series and EBLM series collaborative robots exhibit high collaboration capabilities, compact structures, and user-friendly operations. The dexterous hands feature self-developed motion-sensing technology, enabling biomimetic hands to be as agile as human hands. The embodied intelligence family encompasses a variety of robots with significantly different characteristics to meet various application needs.

The wide variety of end effectors for collaborative robots is equally impressive, all designed to adapt to the diverse tasks in industrial production. The humanoid five-finger dexterous hand from INSPIRE-ROBOTS is intricately designed and flexible, offering universal grasping capabilities compared to typical end effectors. It is suited for handling tools and objects in the majority of manual work scenarios. Equipped with built-in force sensors and surface tactile modules, it can provide real-time feedback on finger pressure, supplying crucial item perception information for the robot.


Jodell Robotics' ERGG series grippers also stand out with their highly integrated design. The dual-sided grippers can be controlled independently, resembling a pair of skilled hands for the robotic arm. They can flexibly adjust gripping force and position based on the shape, texture, and process requirements of different materials. Whether handling delicate electronic components or parts with unique shapes, these grippers can apply precise force, with a stroke span of 1-26 mm, effortlessly handling tasks involving materials of various sizes. With a maximum payload of 1 kg, they can adeptly transport various components in common production scenarios.


Rochu is a high-tech company dedicated to providing flexible end solutions for industrial automation and smart manufacturing. By incorporating principles of bionics, it applies flexible biomimetic soft hands to diverse industrial settings. Its main products include Rochu soft grippers and drivers. The tactile-level flexible gripper possesses centimeter-level adaptability, adjustable modular design for gripping range, high industry versatility, a rapid opening/closing speed of up to 300 times per minute, repeatable positioning accuracy of 0.05 mm, and a maximum payload capacity of 9 kg.


The line-side warehouse is a critical component in ensuring the continuous and efficient operation of industrial robots. PASSIONIOT is dedicated to providing discrete manufacturing customers with "intelligent line-side warehouse products + industry-closed-loop integrated solutions" focused on intelligent production. By innovatively standardizing line-side warehouse products to streamline material flow, developing self-developed software systems to facilitate data flow, and expanding through an integrated service model upstream and downstream in production processes, it offers customers a smart supply chain solution that spans the entire production process and creates a new infrastructure for enterprises' digital transformation and upgrades. Its main products include intelligent storage equipment, intelligent handling equipment, material vision registration & inspection & inventory systems, mobile IoT storage terminals, material handling systems for production processes such as iMHS, iWMS, WCS, and RCS, as well as comprehensive solutions for smart factories.


KinTN Intelligent ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) is a fully automatic material storage system applied in industries such as automotive, electronics, 3C, and defense manufacturing. By utilizing automated and intelligent storage equipment along with complementary automated handling robots and inspection devices, it enables the automation and unmanned operation of processes such as incoming material storage and production line material distribution in factories. ASRS offers a variety of intelligent equipment including SMD intelligent electronic material warehouses, Magazine PCBA vertical warehouses, Mini-load automatic bin libraries, automated handling robots, and more, assisting production-oriented enterprises in creating futuristic smart unmanned factories.


A drag chain is a component of a mechanical tool used to protect and guide energy, data, and signals, and withstand various external environmental impacts. In the moving process, the crucial factor in guiding cables is the interaction and interdependence between drag chain cables and their components, including cables, hoses, internal dividers, stress relief elements, and guided grooves. The materials have been optimized and fine-tuned to achieve maximum operating time and longest service life. Utilizing the igus Drag Chain System to protect cables, air hoses, or hydraulic hoses during operation can effectively minimize downtime and save costs.


productronica China, to be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (Halls E1-E5 & W1-W4) from March 26-28, 2025, will serve as an excellent platform to experience the charm of collaborative robots. This exhibition will bring together companies such as OMRON Corporation, SIASUN DUCO, CGXi, Elite Robots, ESTUN CODROID, PASSIONIOT, KinTN Intelligent, Guomai Intelligent, INSPIRE-ROBOTS, and Ti5 Robot, among others in the field of robots and intelligent warehousing. Industrial sensor companies like Pepperl+Fuchs, ELCO, BANNER, CONTROLWAY, SENPUM, FLEXEM, BOJKE, and others will also participate. Additionally, motion control enterprises such as HIWIN, AirTAC, igus, PMI, Golytec Automation, item, TPA Motion Control, JWIPC, and RobustMotion will be present. This event offers the opportunity to closely engage with innovative product solutions from these brands. Whether you are an industry expert with years of experience in manufacturing or a newcomer eager to immerse yourself in the intelligent industry, productronica China is a must-attend event. Embrace future manufacturing, explore the endless possibilities of collaborative robots, and embark together on a new journey into intelligent manufacturing!