Manufacturing Future: Insights from ABB Robotics Mega Factory Visit

Last week, Nordic Match was pleased to join SwedCham China for an exclusive visit to the ABB Robotics Mega Factory in Shanghai.

Participants gained a firsthand look at how robotics, automation, and AI are shaping the future of manufacturing. From launching the world’s first electrically powered industrial robot in 1974 to becoming a global leader in robotics and automation, ABB continues to set benchmarks for the industry.

A key highlight of the visit was an executive panel discussion on automation, production trends and risks. The session was moderated by Tony Wang, Partner at Nordic Match, with insights shared by Henry Han, President of ABB Robotics China; Lauren Lee, Regional Manager Eastern China at Huayan Robotics; and Gordon Hu, Assembly Center Manager at Sandvik Industrial Equipment.

Key takeaways from the discussion included:

• China has emerged as a global leader in robotics and automation, accounting for more than 50% of global robot shipments. This growth is supported by a highly localised value chain and manufacturing ecosystem that remains difficult to replicate elsewhere.

   

• Automation is evolving from being the "muscle" of production - focused on enhancing efficiency to increasingly becoming the "brain" of production through AI integration.

   

• Successful automation is not about replacing people with robots; it is about understanding customer needs and solving real business challenges related to safety, quality, consistency, and productivity.

   

• Collaborative robots (cobots) are expected to play an increasingly important role, allowing robots and humans to work side by side.

   

• As innovation and automation continue to advance at remarkable speed in China, multinational companies must strengthen knowledge sharing between local operations and global headquarters to ensure alignment and maintain competitiveness.

A big thank you to ABB Robotics for hosting us, to all speakers for sharing their insights, and to SwedCham China for organizing the visit.

At Nordic Match, we see automation, robotics, and AI accelerating across manufacturing, with China playing a key role in both innovation and large-scale adoption. The focus is shifting from pure efficiency toward more intelligent, integrated, and adaptive production systems. This reflects a broader shift in how global industrial players are operating with an “in China, for China and the world” approach.