ASD sees robots for smart production

SHENZHEN-LISTED Zhejiang Aishida Electric Co has invested more than 1 billion yuan (US$147 million) on smart manufacturing facilities that will feature industrial robots made by the company, Shanghai Daily learned yesterday.

Aishida, or ASD, will establish a smart manufacturing plant featuring robots in Taizhou in Zhejiang Province and an “intelligent valley” in Shanghai that will draw 20 industrial partners and organizations in 2020. The whole investment will surpass “1 billion yuan,” said Chen Helin, ASD’s chairman, at a conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the company.

A crock pot maker for 40 years, ASD has expanded into smart manufacturing by investing in industrial robots and acquiring a robot company in 2016.

ASD will produce 2,000 industrial robots this year, double last year’s figure. Some of robots will be used in ASD’s new factory, which will start operation in 2019.

That year ASD will open an “intelligent valley” in Shanghai’s Qingpu District to conduct research in smart manufacturing, robotics, industrial Internet, big data and artificial intelligence. The valley will attract 20 industrial partners and organizations in 2020.

ASD’s robots will be displayed during the China International Industry Fair which opens on September 19 in Shanghai.