China is in the trend of 'robotizing' the electronics industry

In the face of an increasing number of workers and an aging population, the leaders of electronic manufacturing businesses believe that soon, "robot workers" will replace people in Chinese factories. National. Indeed, a new wave of industrial robots is being developed, from high-end humanoid robots that have both senses and the ability to learn to cheap low-cost robots suitable for China's low wages.

Managers predict that in the next five years, these robot technologies will change operations at Chinese factories, as well as compensate for an increasing labor shortage amid the workforce. Young people in this country are increasingly uninterested in manual labor.

Currently, not only traditional robot manufacturers such as the Swiss ABB Group or the German Kuka Group are trying to improve robots, but also Asian electronics suppliers such as Delta Electronics Group. , Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group or Danish robot maker Universal Robots is also looking to develop more handy robots.

Component assembly robots manufactured by Delta Electronics Corporation are being tested.(Photo: WSJ)

For example, Delta has long been known as a manufacturer of chargers for well-known brands, like Apple, which last year launched an ambitious project: producing cheap robots to replace workers at homes. Chinese electronic goods production machine."Obviously, automation is a future trend in China, but the big question is how to lower the price of robots. We believe we can do that because we produce up to two-thirds. Components, ' said Delta Yancey President, confident. Delta is currently testing a 4-speed single-handed robot that can move objects, assemble components, and do some similar things. By 2016, Delta hopes to launch the first version for about $ 10,000, half the price of the current type of robot and cheaper than a worker in China, but it can work 24. / 24.

Meanwhile, other robotics companies have also created new generation robots that can be easily reprogrammed and smart enough to safely work with people. Such as humanoid robot with 2 arms including 7 joints of ABB - the world's leading industrial robot manufacturer. This robot specializes in performing precise tasks and stops working when people touch. Although the cost of equipping this type of robot is higher than labor, the price gap is gradually shrinking as wages in China are rising at a double-digit rate each year.

Experts say automation will help companies avoid harsh criticism of workers' working conditions. Accordingly, Foxconn, the world's largest maker and assembler, plans to install 1 million industrial robots at factories in 2014. Pegatron manufacturer is also trying to automate almost every stage. Dangerous and labor intensive, when investing about $ 100 million to automate the production line of electronic device shells. Meanwhile, Quanta - the world's largest desktop manufacturer, hopes to make a big change in the automation process over the next two years, as labor costs are increasing.

In the context of the ever-growing robot technology and the potential to lower prices, many warn foreign electronics companies in China could bring their components manufacturing and assembly plants back home. However, industry experts disagree with the idea, claiming that the electronics assembly industry will remain in the world's most populous country, because the country is still home to the equipment supply chain. very big.