Use of robots increases in China, may overtake Japan

[xhw1986]

An exhibition of industrial robots in Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2013.

China is in the process of becoming the world's leding operator of industrial robots as an increasing number of its factories turn to mechanical devices to cope with rising labor costs and shortages. The number of industrial robots in use in the country could overtake Japan to be the highest in the world by 2015, reports Japan's English-language Nikkei Asian Review.

Mingzhi Technology, an auto parts maker in Suzhou in eastern China's Jiangsu province, has six robots working on its production lines. It plans to install more for grinding metal this year to increase its production efficiency and to cope with its limited labor force, the company's equipment manager said.

Around 20 businesses producing metal castings and bolts showed great interest in the latest industrial robots during an exhibition in Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu in December. They were impressed by the speed and accuracy the robots exhibited in assembly and painting.

In 2005, only 4,500 robots were sold in China but the figure is likely to reach 280,000 this year, which is almost neck and neck with Japan, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The figure may even reach 340,000 units by 2015, around 3,000 higher than Japan's projected figure.

Labor shortages are the main reason that the Chinese manufacturing sector has embraced the use of automation. Many workers from the country's younger generation cannot stand harsh working conditions on the production line and quit after a few months, said Mingzhi Technology's equipment manager. Rising labor costs have also contributed to the demand for robots, as wages in Suzhou have doubled since 2008. Meanwhile the government has set a goal for income levels to double between 2010 and 2020.

The time needed for businesses to recover the costs they spend on robots is also shrinking, said Japanese robotics firm Yaskawa Electric Corporate. The time to recover the costs of a small multi-joint robot — which can replace two human workers — has been reduced to two years from three to four years in 2008.

Installing automated systems and maintenance services are the biggest problems that Chinese businesses encounter. They cannot find the professionals needed to automate their production lines, said a vice manager of a Chinese company producing parts for car air conditioning systems.

The Chinese government has stepped up its investment in training and developing professionals for the robotics industry. The country's 12th five-year plan highlights the importance of the industry and recognizes that robots can help the manufacturing sector improve quality and efficiency.

The Changzhou Institute of Mechatronic Technology established a robotic technician academy in May last year to train talent in anticipation of booming demand for robots. Its students will be trained to weld, transport and assemble robots on 17 mechanical devices provided by Yaskawa Electric and Japanese auto component maker Denso.

Universities and national research institutes meanwhile have also granted Siasun Robot & Automation, a company controlled by the Chinese Academy of Science's automation research institution in Shenyang, Liaoning province, access to their robotics research. The company has produced robots which can weld, paint and transport at automobile factories and reported a 30% increase in its revenue in 2012 at 1.04 billion yuan (US$171 million).

Use of robots increases in China, may overtake Japan: report｜Markets｜Business｜WantChinaTimes.com

 

[BoQ77]

The wage levels in China now increasing, so this could be a good solution to keep their competitive aspect comparing to others.
The robot using in Japan is another aspect.

Even more popular CNC machines, China made quality, still far below Japan, Germany ...
Robot using cost more and not the No. 1 choice for a country like China

 

[lcloo]

With rising wages and labor shortage, robots are actually cheaper in long term. Robots do not rest, sick or having bad emotion like human beings, and they can work 24 hours 7 days a week with precision, producing little or zero QC reject end-products.

When there is labor shortage, the alternative to robots is to import foreign workers to fill the factory floors which is actually a bad idea, it can cause increase in crimes, public health problems etc.

Robotics are the way forward to future, well done China!!!

 

[kbd-raaf]

With rising wages and labor shortage, robots are actually cheaper in long term. Robots do not rest, sick or having bad emotion like human beings, and they can work 24 hours 7 days a week with precision, producing little or zero QC reject end-products.

When there is labor shortage, the alternative to robots is to import foreign workers to fill the factory floors which is actually a bad idea, it can cause increase in crimes, public health problems etc.

Robotics are the way forward to future, well done China!!!

No.

 

[lcloo]

Worry not pal, you will get lots of investment from labor intensive low cost products manufacturing companies moving to India for your cheap labor, China going robotic will be good for your workers, no? For the large cheap labor force that you have, going robotics will be very expensive.

 

[BoQ77]

At the current wages level, using robot still be luxury to China.
Automatical machining, no need to be robotic which is very expensive. This is especially true to big size manufacturing items.

 

[lcloo]

At the current wages level, using robot still be luxury to China.
Automatical machining, no need to be robotic which is very expensive. This is especially true to big size manufacturing items.

Use of robots in traditional labor intensive factories that produce low value products is obviously an overkill, but China is moving away from these industries which are moving to South Asian and South East Asian nations with cheap labors. China's industries are now focusing on high technology high value products like aircraft, automobiles, machineries, computers etc, and labor wages are no more cheap.

The simple fact that China is now world No.2 user as described in this news article from Japan said it all. And according to the Japanese, China will overtake Japan as world No.1 user of robots after 2015 disputes all disagreement.

 

[walle990]

At the current wages level, using robot still be luxury to China.
Automatical machining, no need to be robotic which is very expensive. This is especially true to big size manufacturing items.

robots are used in heavy industries, china doesn't become the largest manufacturing sewing garments or making consumer electronics (China makes $5 out of a $600 ipad for example). Its industrial output is second to none.