#China #Zoomlion #Beijing #Robotics #Smart Manufacturing

Zoomlion's Innovations at the World Robot Conference

From August 8 to 12, 2025, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (stock number: 1157.HK) presented its cutting-edge innovations in industrial and humanoid robotics at the 2025 World Robot Conference held in Beijing. As both a robot user and a developer, Zoomlion showcased new applications, groundbreaking core technologies, and a visionary plan for intelligent manufacturing.

Zeng Guang, General Manager of Zoomlion's ZValley Technology Co., Ltd., stated, “Industrial and humanoid robots are not substitutes; they are partners in a new manufacturing paradigm. Our goal is to empower robots to adapt to their environments, enhancing manufacturing quality, efficiency, and intelligence.” This direction marks a pivotal step in the company’s ongoing commitment to integrating robotics into industrial practices.

Zoomlion began its journey into robotics nearly two decades ago, initially focusing on programmable industrial robots for mass production. Since 2019, the company has been utilizing adaptive robots supported by image processing and force sensors to promote agile, multimodal production. A prime example of such innovation is the Zoomlion Smart Industry City in Changsha, where over 2,000 adaptive robots operate across 300 intelligent manufacturing lines, producing cranes, excavators, aerial work platforms, and concrete machinery. This facility can switch between different models in minutes, enabling flexible small-batch production at scale.

In 2024, Zoomlion broadened its scope by researching the use of humanoid robots to meet automation requirements beyond those of traditional industrial robots. The company has developed three humanoid models—two wheeled and one bipedal—currently piloted in manufacturing, logistics, assembly, and quality control sectors. These advanced robots feature multimodal perception, intention recognition, and a combination of vision, force, and tactile sensors for precise manipulation. Furthermore, the robots are equipped with collaborative two-arm motion planning with safety perception.

To expedite deployment, Zoomlion established a training center with more than 100 workstations and developed a native AI cloud platform for large-scale data collection and model training. This strategic infrastructure is integrated into Zoomlion's intelligent manufacturing ecosystem, which connects over 1.7 million units globally, covering 18 categories and over 600 models. The platform collects over 30,000 data parameters, enabling the creation of petabyte-scale industrial facilities. This infrastructure allows for the continuous evolution of both industrial and humanoid robotics, facilitating real-time coordination and adaptive production.

Looking to the future, Zoomlion aims to create a new production model through the joint development of hardware and software, enabling clusters of industrial and humanoid robots to cooperate and construct intelligent factories equipped with self-awareness, self-adaptation, and self-decision-making capabilities. This ambitious vision positions Zoomlion at the forefront of the smart manufacturing revolution, demonstrating how technology can reshape the industrial landscape.

Future Outlook

As Zoomlion continues to refine its technologies, the company is committed to setting new standards in manufacturing practices. Their emphasis on collaboration between humans and machines is expected to yield remarkable advancements, paving the way for a more efficient and intelligent industrial ecosystem. The integration of these humanoid robots not only reflects the evolution of technology but also encapsulates a broader shift towards smarter, more connected production environments, ensuring that Zoomlion remains a leader in the industry.