Designed for Agility and Scale, ABB’s Lite+, PoWa, and IRB1200 Robots Empower China’s Mid-Market Manufacturers to Lead the Next Wave of Industrial Automation

Targeting the rapidly expanding mid-sized corporate sector in China, ABB has introduced three new robot families—Lite+, PoWa, and IRB1200—exclusively in that country, marking the beginning of a new era of scalable automation. This is a strategic spark for industrial acceleration in a market that is set to spearhead the global automation revolution, not just another product rollout.

Why China? Why now? Mid-tier firms are calling for more intelligent, quick, and adaptable automation as labor costs increase and supply chains become more constrained. In response, ABB is developing a new generation of robots that are not only small and simple to set up, but also made to blend in seamlessly with production settings without the need for expensive retooling. With its accuracy and cost, the Lite+ line is perfect for light assembly and electronics work. PoWa, which stands for "Power Work Assistant," provides industries like metal production with strong handling capabilities. Additionally, the next-generation IRB1200, a reinvented version of ABB's iconic tiny arm, has advanced AI learning capabilities that allow for deployment in less than an hour, such as voice command and task-teaching through direct interaction. "China's economy is growing thanks to mid-sized businesses. We are providing them with access to ABB's worldwide innovation through these robot families, tailored to meet their specific requirements," stated Sami Atiya, President of ABB's Robotics and Discrete Automation Business.

This launch is a commercial disruptor as well as a technological advancement. ABB's choice to initially introduce these robots in China shows faith in the industrial agility and rising demand for automation excellence in the region. ABB's three next-generation robots are more than just a product line; they are a strategic power move on the new industrial chessboard as production around the world moves toward flexibility and resilience. The mid-market recently received its most potent instruments yet.

"As mid-sized firms have unprecedented access to top-notch robotics, the question is: will you be at the forefront of automation or will you have to catch up?"