On December 6, Kaierda, a leading domestic welding robot manufacturer, announced plans to invest 200 million RMB in the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary—Hangzhou Kaierda Humanoid Robotics Co., Ltd. This move marks a solid step for Kaierda into the field of embodied AI technology.

Kaierda Humanoid Robotics will focus on the research, development, and sales of intelligent robots, as well as the manufacturing and sales of service and consumer robots, actively promoting technological progress and industrial upgrades to contribute to the prosperity of the humanoid robot market.

As the investment and operation platform for Kaierda’s humanoid robot business, Kaierda Humanoid Robotics will further invest in humanoid robot systems, core components, sensors, and embodied intelligence technologies.

Kaierda, which specializes in industrial robots and welding equipment, is one of the few companies in China that has mastered core technologies in robot welding equipment, robot arms, and controllers.

Looking at Kaierda’s shareholder structure, it’s clear that one of the world’s four major industrial robot giants, Yaskawa Electric, holds a 13.75% stake and is its second-largest shareholder.

With the DNA of an industrial robot giant, Kaierda saw impressive growth in 2024. In the first half of the year, Kaierda’s self-produced robots sold 1,149 units, a year-on-year increase of 117.61%. Additionally, its sales of Yaskawa robots increased by 48.60%.

This robust growth continued through the first three quarters of 2024, with Kaierda achieving revenue of 452 million RMB, up 28.89%, and net profit attributable to shareholders of 29.27 million RMB, up 78.64%. Excluding non-recurring items, its net profit grew 453.88%, reaching 21.75 million RMB.

Despite delivering impressive results, Kaierda had previously experienced some financial challenges. Between 2021 and 2023, its net profit showed a decline year-on-year: 59.84 million RMB in 2021, 37.11 million RMB in 2022, and 24.87 million RMB in 2023. The reasons for this decline were attributed to a drop in demand for welding robots, which led to a reduction in revenue and profits.

According to authoritative reports, the global industrial robot density has doubled in the past seven years. In the first three quarters of 2024, global industrial robot sales reached about 216,000 units, a slight increase of 5% year-on-year.

While the industrial robot market remains resilient, it is undeniable that overall demand is weakening. The market has entered a phase of “survival of the fittest,” with companies fiercely competing for a larger share of the limited market “pie” in an intense “involution.”

The rise of humanoid robots has introduced a new variable to the robotics industry. Many leading robot companies are either investing, acquiring, or developing humanoid robots to seize the opportunity in this emerging field and build technological barriers and market advantages.

Kaierda is no exception. In June of this year, Kaierda invested in the emerging bipedal robot company, Jingzhi Technology, acquiring a 19.8% stake. The two companies are working on integrated robot joints, motors, drives, sensors, reducers, mechanical components, electrical components, and complete robots.

Now, with an investment of 200 million RMB in humanoid robotics, Kaierda is set to establish a more complete industrial chain, improving operational efficiency and market competitiveness, providing strong momentum for future development.

The global humanoid robot market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 71%, with the market size expected to reach 154 billion USD by 2035.

At the same time, the continued popularity of embodied intelligence, like a powerful wind, is pushing the development wave of the robotics industry. Whether it’s industrial robots or humanoid robots, both are expected to experience new opportunities and transformational changes driven by this momentum.

This “industrial welding giant” is gradually breaking free from the constraints of the welding robot field and stepping into a new, multifaceted business domain, embarking on a new and limitless transformation journey.