ABB has introduced three new robot families—Lite+, PoWa, and a redesigned IRB 1200—as part of its strategy to expand automation offerings in China. The announcement, made from its Shanghai Mega Factory, underscores ABB’s continued investment in local production and technology development in line with its “local for local” approach.
The new robots are designed to meet a broad range of industrial automation needs, including material handling, pick-and-place operations, assembly, polishing, and dispensing. Each is integrated with ABB’s OmniCore controller platform, enabling compatibility with artificial intelligence, sensor systems, and cloud and edge computing technologies.
The Lite+ series is aimed at basic automation applications, particularly for smaller operators in sectors such as electronics manufacturing. PoWa, a compact collaborative robot, targets tasks requiring speed and flexibility, and is designed for rapid deployment, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. The updated IRB 1200, available globally, has been optimized for precision and space efficiency in high-speed industrial tasks.
According to ABB, these product launches address rising demand in China’s robotics sector, particularly in mid-market segments, which the company estimates grew at a compound annual growth rate of 24 percent from 2021 to 2024 and is projected to expand by 8 percent annually through 2028.
ABB also showcased a natural language interface for robot instruction during its launch event in Shanghai. The system, demonstrated with the PoWa robot, allows for simplified programming through verbal commands and visual processing.
With over 90 percent of ABB’s robots for the Chinese market now produced domestically, the company emphasized its long-standing presence in China since 1994 and its commitment to supporting the country’s industrial automation development through local manufacturing and R\&D.
