Swiss-based global automation company ABB Robotics has launched three new robot families which can be used for materials handling applications to the Chinese market.

PoWa is a compact cobot with industrial level speeds up to 5.8 m/s, it is ideal for fast palletising, pick-and-place and machine-tending tasks. 

PoWa has no-code programming and plug-and-play capabilities allowing it to be quickly operational, making it particularly attractive to SMEs.

Lite+ is designed for materials handling and pick-and-place operations, and the IRB 1200 (New Generation) while the IRB 1200, which rounds out the new releases, is designed for assembly and dispensing and other high-precision applications.

Each of these families of robots is now being manufactured at ABB Robotics’ Shanghai Mega Factory, which the company says reinforces both its local investment in China and its full value chain in the country.

“China is the world’s largest robotics market for ABB Robotics,” says Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s Robotics discrete automation business.

“China’s growth in sectors such as electronics and from small and medium-sized businesses is driving the increasing demand for accessible, user-friendly solutions.

“With our new robot families…we are helping new industries and customers automate with new mid-market value propositions.”

ABB says more than 90% of its robots used in China are now manufactured locally with China accounting for more than half of the world’s robot installations in 2023.