Shanghai Electric Deepens its Roots in Robotics: Acquiring Core Assets from FANUC, Laying Out the Future of Humanoid Robots

Shanghai Electric Deepens its Roots in Robotics: Acquiring Core Assets from FANUC, Laying Out the Future of Humanoid RobotsA recent acquisition announcement by Shanghai Electric (601727.SH) reveals its strategic layout in the robotics field

Shanghai Electric Deepens its Roots in Robotics: Acquiring Core Assets from FANUC, Laying Out the Future of Humanoid Robots

A recent acquisition announcement by Shanghai Electric (601727.SH) reveals its strategic layout in the robotics field. The company will acquire 100% of Shanghai Ningsheng Industrial Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Ningsheng Industrial) through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Electric Automation Group Co., Ltd., for 308,242.11 million yuan. This move will allow Shanghai Electric to indirectly hold 50% of the equity in Shanghai FANUC Robotics Co., Ltd., the joint venture between industrial robot giant FANUC and Ningsheng Industrial in China.

This acquisition takes place against the backdrop of the "Six Acquisition Guidelines" issued to encourage listed companies to transform and upgrade their industries and foray into emerging sectors. Shanghai Electric said that this transaction will further advance its automation equipment industry layout in areas like lithium batteries, photovoltaics, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing.

FANUC Robotics: A Giant in the Industrial Robot Industry

FANUC, founded in 1956, is the world's largest manufacturer of professional numerical control systems. It, along with ABB, Kuka, and Yaskawa, is known as the "Big Four" in the industrial robot field, long dominating the global robot market.

Shanghai FANUC Robotics Co., Ltd. was established in 1997 through a joint investment by FANUC and Ningsheng Industrial. Its main business includes industrial robots and factory automation solutions. In recent years, the company has seen steady growth in performance, with net profits reaching 330 million yuan, 789 million yuan, and 1.332 billion yuan in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively.

Synergies between Shanghai Electric and FANUC

The cooperation between Shanghai Electric and FANUC will create market and innovation synergies. Shanghai FANUC's deep cultivation in automotive, electronics, photovoltaics, and other fields aligns perfectly with Shanghai Electric's development direction. Both parties can leverage each other's strengths, achieve complementary market resources, and enable mutual empowerment. Furthermore, they will collaborate on the research and development of new-generation intelligent robot products, building Shanghai Electric's differentiated competitive advantage in the intelligent robot track.

Humanoid Robots: A New Track for Future Industries

Shanghai Electric's acquisition is not only a strategic move in the traditional industrial robot field but also an active exploration into the field of humanoid robots.

Humanoid robots have emerged as a new track for future industries in recent years. The launch of Tesla Optimus humanoid robots has accelerated the global boom in the humanoid robot market. As robots that simulate human appearance, form, and behavior, humanoid robots have the ability to seamlessly integrate into human society, use human infrastructure and tools, and achieve natural interaction and action through AI empowerment.

China's Humanoid Robot Industry Development Plan

The Chinese government highly values the development of the humanoid robot industry and has issued the "Guiding Opinions on the Innovative Development of Humanoid Robots," proposing to establish a preliminary innovation system for humanoid robots by 2025, achieve breakthroughs in key technologies, reach international advanced levels in complete machine products, and realize mass production. By 2027, China aims to significantly enhance its technological innovation capabilities in humanoid robots, form a safe and reliable industrial chain and supply chain system, and build an internationally competitive industrial ecosystem.

Shanghai Electric's Layout for Core Components in Humanoid Robots

Facing intense competition and rapid technological iterations in the humanoid robot market, Shanghai Electric is actively strengthening cooperation with upstream and downstream players in the domestic humanoid robot field and exploring the core component track.

This July, the "Qinglong," the first full-size general-purpose humanoid robot open-source public version machine in China, was launched. The robot was independently developed by Humanoid Robots (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., whose shareholders include Shanghai Electric Group and Zhangjiang Group.

Shanghai Tian'an Bearing Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, has already delivered sample bearings for the humanoid robot "Dexterous Hand" to its clients. As the end tool of a humanoid robot, the internal structure and joint design of the "Dexterous Hand" require very high technical standards.

Shanghai Jiyou, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, signed a cooperation agreement with Nanjing University of Science and Technology to jointly develop core components for humanoid robots. Leveraging Nanjing University of Science and Technology's scientific research strength in rolling functional components and Shanghai Jiyou's rich experience in precision manufacturing and industrial application, they will drive technological innovation.

Shanghai Electric's Robotics Outlook

By acquiring core assets from FANUC, Shanghai Electric has established a solid foundation in the industrial robot field and actively entered the humanoid robot track, exploring the core component market, laying a solid foundation for its future development in the robotics field. Shanghai Electric will continue to keep pace with technological trends, actively explore robot application scenarios, promote the healthy development of the robot industry, and contribute to the intelligent upgrade of China's manufacturing industry.

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