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Citic Telecom CPC reveals new name for Linx Telecommunications and enters ‘new era in connecting the world to the Digital Silk Road’

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Citic becomes one of the first Asian managed service providers to host Points of Presence along the ‘One Belt, One Road’ route

Citic Telecom International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citic Telecom International, today announced that after Citic Telecom CPC completed its acquisition of Linx Telecommunication, the merged company is to be named Citic Telecom CPC Europe.

Citic says it marks a new era for the company as it becomes one of the first Asian managed service providers to own Points of Presence (POPs) across a multitude of countries along the ‘Digital Silk Road’.

Stephen Ho (main picture), CEO of Citic Telecom CPC, who presented the new developments at a press conference in London, says the company is “accelerating internationalization and digitalization”.  [Read more…] about Citic Telecom CPC reveals new name for Linx Telecommunications and enters ‘new era in connecting the world to the Digital Silk Road’

Top Chinese robot maker Siasun reports revenue increase of 82 per cent

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Siasun Robot & Automation Company, which claims it is China’s leading industrial robot manufacturer, has reported a revenue increase of 82 per cent for the period from July to September, compared with the same period last year. 

Siasun says in its filing that the company’s third-quarter revenue “surged this year as it benefited from China’s industrial rally”.

ShanghaiDaily.com, which is reporting the story, adds that Siasun generated annual growth of 50 per cent in new orders of its industrial robots and for its logistics offerings since December last year.  [Read more…] about Top Chinese robot maker Siasun reports revenue increase of 82 per cent

Yaskawa Electric reports stunning 150 per cent more profits with robotics and automation leading the way

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Yaskawa Electric says it has achieved a staggering 150 per cent growth in net profit for the period from April to September, compared with the same period last year, according to a report on Nikkei. 

Nikkei says Yaskawa’s profits for the period were $184 million, beating its own previous records.

Yaskawa, which also owns the Motoman brand of industrial robot, says most of the growth was due to increased orders for automation equipment from China, Japan and the US.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa Electric reports stunning 150 per cent more profits with robotics and automation leading the way

Kawasaki sells 2,000 duAro units in China, looking to sell even more robots amid labour shortages

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Kawasaki Robotics has sold 2,000 units of its duAro dual-armed collaborative industrial robot in China, according to a report on Bloomberg.com. 

The company is now looking to increase sales to 5,000 units of duAro as the country’s industrial sector struggles with labour shortages.

As anomalous as it seems for a country with 1.4 billion people, China is facing labour shortages – believed to be caused by the one-child policy, introduced in 1979 when the country first started moving to a more capitalist-style economy.  [Read more…] about Kawasaki sells 2,000 duAro units in China, looking to sell even more robots amid labour shortages

EU expected to make it more difficult for foreign companies to buy European companies

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The European Union is re-examining the rules governing takeovers of European companies by investors from outside the EU. 

The reassessment comes in the aftermath of the takeover of German robotics and industrial automation company Kuka by Chinese household appliances maker Midea.

Midea’s acquisition of Kuka – for about $4 billion – was said by Bloomberg to be part of a “global acquisitions spree” by the Chinese company.  [Read more…] about EU expected to make it more difficult for foreign companies to buy European companies

US trade boss warns of oversupply of bad robots because of Chinese government subsidies

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China’s appetite for industrial robots is big and growing. Already the largest buyer of the machines, domestic companies are being encouraged by the Chinese government to build more robots locally, not just import them from overseas. 

Such high-powered encouragement has led to the establishment of numerous robot manufacturers in the country, some of which take advantage of government subsidies.

This has prompted criticism from US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross (main picture), who grumbled about a range of issues, but singled out China’s burgeoning robotics industry, which he apparently believes is built mainly on government subsidies.  [Read more…] about US trade boss warns of oversupply of bad robots because of Chinese government subsidies

By 2020, 1.7 million new robots will be roaming the earth

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The global robot population is growing at what some might say is an alarming rate. 

As well as the countless millions already tucked away in factories and homes everywhere, there could be another 2 million added to that number by the end of the decade, which may or may not coincide with the end of humanity’s control over the planet and a ceremonial transfer of power to the robots and artificial intelligence.

Purely ceremonial, since some people say they already rule over us anyway.  [Read more…] about By 2020, 1.7 million new robots will be roaming the earth

HRG launches industrial robotics tutorial platform

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HIT Robot Group, one of China’s leading manufacturer of robots, has launched an industrial robotics tutorial platform.

HRG says Haidu Academy is designed to help learners of different levels to improve their industrial robot-operating skills on various brands.

China is the largest and fastest-growing robot market in the world.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in the first seven months of 2017, 71,600 industrial robots were produced in China, accounting for more than 30 percent of global output during the period.

Statistics also suggest an increasing demand for skilled workers. The Ministry predicts that China will need 200,000 skilled workers to operate industrial robots as of 2020.

[Read more…] about HRG launches industrial robotics tutorial platform

ABB doubling investment in China to see off challenge from Kuka and surpass Fanuc

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ABB has a significant lead in the industrial robotics and automation market in China, but it seems somewhat wary of Kuka. 

The company recently decided it would double its investment in its research and development facility in China, and effectively make it the company’s global R&D HQ.

ABB currently employs 17,000 people in 139 cities in China. Its robotics division, though huge by itself, is just one part of the Swiss multinational engineering company.

Speaking to Bloomberg, ABB CEO Ulrish Spiesshofer says: “ABB is ahead of Kuka globally, we are ahead of Kuka here in the market and our ambition is to stay so.”  [Read more…] about ABB doubling investment in China to see off challenge from Kuka and surpass Fanuc

Siemens to establish global robotics research and development centre in China

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Engineering giant Siemens is establishing a robotics research and development centre in China. 

The company says the facility will be a global research centre in autonomous robotics, and is part of its innovation strategy to “master technology fields that are critical for future success”.

Worldwide, Siemens is planning to spend $6 billion this year on R&D, and China is likely to represent a significant portion of that budget.

Siemens says the global research community in its China R&D centre will comprise experienced experts from around the world will focus on:

  • the research and development of new mechatronics systems,
  • human-robot collaboration; and
  • the application of artificial intelligence in robotic controllers.

[Read more…] about Siemens to establish global robotics research and development centre in China