On July 16, in Yuyao, Zhejiang, Zhou Guangxing, Deputy General Manager of STEP and General Manager of the Robotics Division, delivered a keynote speech titled “Strategic Considerations for the 20,000-Unit Milestone in China’s Domestic Robot Industry” at the 7th China Robot Summit and Smart Economy Talent Summit. In his speech, Zhou shared STEP experiences and insights gained throughout its journey of growth in the robotics industry, earning enthusiastic applause from the attending experts and colleagues.

Mr. Zhou believes that, over the past decade of relentless efforts, the performance of domestically produced robots has steadily improved. Some products have transitioned from a follower position to a position of parallel development, and their brands have gradually gained market recognition. Shipment volumes have surged from zero ten years ago to now accounting for over 30% of the market share. Looking ahead, as China faces an aging population and a shrinking labor force, its robotics market will remain in a phase of rapid growth for quite some time. Domestically produced robots are poised to enter a period of rapid expansion. The Chinese market is large enough to accommodate the joint growth of multiple domestic brands. Therefore, within the next two to three years, China’s outstanding local brands will successively reach the milestone of shipping tens of thousands of units, experiencing both the joys and challenges of growth. Meanwhile, given the robotics industry’s long cycle and high capital requirements, starting from 2018, as capital markets cooled down and policies shifted back to a more balanced stance, the robotics industry has accelerated its reshuffling. The trend of orders concentrating on leading companies has become increasingly evident. Companies with solid technological foundations and strong financial resources will be well-positioned to emerge victorious in the marathon race of robotics development.

Robot-manufactured intelligent production line

General Manager Zhou emphasized that domestically produced robots must adhere to high standards throughout the R&D process. As a domestic industrial robot manufacturer that was among the first to surpass 20,000 units in shipments, STEP has successfully bridged the gap from prototype development to mass production. STEP welding robots and palletizing robots are now on par with those of leading international brands. In the Chinese market, Zhongweixing—a brand under STEP—has consistently ranked first among domestic brands in SCARA robot shipments for many consecutive years. These remarkable achievements are attributable to STEP unwavering commitment to the strategy of “benchmarking against imports and surpassing them,” its sustained, large-scale investment over the long term, and its rigorous alignment of technical and performance indicators with top-tier international brands. Throughout the R&D process, STEP maintains stringent testing standards—from individual components to complete machines—and has established a 1:1 real-world testing environment at its own factory, conducting extensive, long-term tests to ensure product stability. Furthermore, STEP conducts prolonged trials at the sites of pioneering customers, gaining deep insights into their specific processes and guaranteeing product reliability. By engaging in close dialogue with leading users and tailoring product interfaces to suit their unique needs, STEP has significantly enhanced user-friendliness. After ten years of dedicated practice, STEP has come to deeply recognize that in the robotics field, backwardness in fundamental disciplines is severely hindering the development of China’s robotics industry. Therefore, STEP advocates for collaborative industry-academia integration with renowned universities both domestically and internationally. With substantial progress made by the nation in foundational disciplines such as mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, STEP is firmly laying a solid academic foundation for the robotics industry.

General Zhou pointed out that, in a market landscape dominated by international brands, the key to success for domestic brands lies in niche markets. Building on its mastery of core robotic technologies in specialized areas such as screw fastening and welding of power transmission tower foundations, STEP has gained a deep understanding of on-site process requirements, providing users with highly efficient solutions and creating tangible value for them. By steadily accumulating experience in one niche market after another—gathering small contributions into a great whole, turning grains of sand into a towering structure—and adopting a step-by-step, solid approach, STEP is steadily expanding its market share.

General Manager Zhou pointed out that supply-chain resilience and large-scale manufacturing capabilities are the foundation for becoming a leading robotics manufacturer. The rise of domestically produced complete robots hinges on the accelerated growth of companies specializing in critical components—such as reducers and motors—which will provide the supply chain with opportunities for testing and application. STEP advocates treating suppliers with respect and working together to build a harmonious, win-win ecosystem for both suppliers and manufacturers. STEP has established factories in Shanghai and Shenzhen, each with an annual production capacity of 20,000 units, making it one of only a few companies worldwide that have robotic production lines dedicated to manufacturing robots themselves. The goal is to enhance large-scale, high-level manufacturing capabilities and deliver high-performance robotic products to users.

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