Global Robotics Revolution: How KUKA's 2024 Innovations Are Reshaping Manufacturing

As the financial reporting season comes to a close, publicly listed companies have completed their annual report disclosures. From Midea Group's annual report, we can gain insights into KUKA Group's (KU2.DE) development in 2024. Midea acquired the German robotics company KUKA in 2017 (completing privatization and delisting in 2022), quickly becoming one of the global TOP 4 in the industrial robotics industry, subsequently establishing its Robotics and Automation Division. Following the acquisition, Midea made significant R&D investments in common materials and key components for heavy-duty robots to build a comprehensive robotics industrial chain based on Chinese market applications.

KUKA Product Development in 2024

KUKA, under Midea's ownership, is a globally renowned robot manufacturer. With its leading motion algorithms ensuring superior performance throughout product lifecycles and mature design concepts continuously spawning market-leading new products, KUKA has maintained its competitive edge. In 2024, as precision assembly demands grew in high-end manufacturing sectors like consumer electronics, semiconductors, medical devices, and automotive components, KUKA launched new products with enhanced performance targeting specific market segments, achieving significant progress in both technological innovation and product development.

KUKA introduced a new KR SCARA robot, enhancing its four-axis robot portfolio with a maximum payload capacity of 60kg. This robot features higher load capacity, more flexible working range, and superior precision and speed performance. Suitable for various industries, it effectively improves production efficiency and manufacturing precision while meeting EU CE certification standards for product quality and safety.

Addressing industry pain points such as insufficient production cycle times, limited production floor space, and high-precision requirements in certain scenarios, KUKA launched the KR CYBERTECH-3 HW series robot models KR 12 R1450-3 HW and KR 35 R1840-3 HW. These new products, characterized by lightweight design and stable performance, can meet automation needs across automotive manufacturing, electronic assembly, metal processing, food processing, and more.

source: KUKA China

The new version of KUKA's KR FORTEC industrial robot offers advantages in dynamics, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. Its high dynamic performance and compact design make it particularly suitable for handling and spot welding tasks. With a reach of up to 3,700 millimeters, this heavy-duty robot features cross-model modular design ensuring high commonality of robot components and reduced spare parts storage costs, resulting in lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

At the 2024 LogiMAT International Logistics Exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany, KUKA unveiled the KMP 3000P, an omnidirectional heavy-duty AMR robot that integrates laser SLAM and QR code navigation technologies. Suitable for material handling and assembly scenarios across automotive, aerospace, photovoltaic, lithium battery, and engineering machinery industries, the KMP 3000P has a rated payload of 3,000kg. Its features include heavy-duty omnidirectional movement, 360° safety coverage, five-layer comprehensive protection, and rapid inductive charging. The new inductive charging solution enables around-the-clock operation, while integrated 3D vision systems and laser scanners effectively ensure flexibility and safety in human working environments.

In logistics automation, KUKA's Swisslog introduced the MegaStore pallet shuttle system, a multi-deep automated storage system for pallet goods. This customized logistics solution offers high return on investment with a maximum load capacity of 1,500kg. The mother carrier reaches speeds of 3.5m/s, while the shuttle carrier operates at 1.36m/s. Equipped with a single-column high-speed lift reaching heights of up to 40 meters and a lifting speed of 1.5m/s, this system is not only highly efficient and reliable but also features high storage density and throughput, significantly increasing inventory capacity by 40-60% compared to traditional flat warehouses.

Additionally, KUKA and its subsidiary Swisslog are actively exploring industrial applications of artificial intelligence. KUKA has trained an AI chatbot using vast amounts of robot programming code and is working to provide this AI chatbot to customers, potentially enabling voice command operations for robots in the future. Swisslog's AI models can now accurately identify items and enable automatic picking of different objects to meet customer delivery order combination requirements through perfect interaction between AI, cameras, and robots.

In 2024, KUKA established a new KUKA Digital business unit focusing on comprehensive digital production, from 3D simulation, connectivity, and data analysis to AI applications. This department is dedicated to helping customers achieve complete digitalization. KUKA will also launch a new cloud platform called mosaixx, an open, collaborative Industrial Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud platform that combines software tools, data management, cloud computing, and process understanding to form a digital twin foundation. Combined with KUKA's years of project experience, this platform will provide customers with forward-looking professional end-to-end solutions.

KUKA's Development in China During 2024

Midea continues to promote resource integration and expansion in the Chinese market, deepening organizational reform and product iteration while focusing on industry applications and key customers. In 2024, KUKA China achieved breakthroughs in robot and mobile robot technology innovation and product development, launching a total of 27 new products covering SCARA robots, small robots, medium and low payload robots, heavy-duty robots, and mobile robots. Some of these new products achieved impressive market performance within the year of their release.

According to MIR Industrial Intelligence statistics, KUKA industrial robots' domestic market share in 2024 steadily increased to approximately 8.2%. Notably, KUKA China achieved growth in both sales revenue and order scale in 2024, with significantly increased overseas business share. Among these, overseas revenue for mobile robots now exceeds 50%.

KUKA China has continuously improved its technological advantages and service quality in manufacturing, with industrial robot business achieving rapid growth in the 3C consumer electronics industry for two consecutive years. It has strengthened cooperation with numerous well-known enterprises while continually enriching its medium and small payload robot product line. In the new energy vehicle industry, KUKA has strengthened cooperation with leading companies, with order volumes reaching historic highs. Furthermore, it has continuously achieved customer breakthroughs and order growth in industries such as photovoltaics, aerospace, glass, and education.

source: KUKA 

In the logistics field, stacker robots have expanded into new industries like tobacco and tires while continuing to make breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The company has completed the signing and implementation of multiple integration projects, with product orders and shipments rapidly increasing, while also beginning to develop overseas markets. The competitive advantages of mobile robots in the North American market have gradually emerged, achieving breakthrough with leading local customers and significant growth in 2024. Simultaneously, leveraging KUKA's technological, quality, and service network advantages, these products now fully cover the Asia-Pacific market.

In the medical field, KUKA achieved new breakthroughs in 2024, securing comprehensive logistics projects for Shenzhen Bao'an Air-Sea Rescue Hospital, Zibo Linzi District People's Hospital, Shenzhen Longgang Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen Shekou People's Hospital, Wuhan Union Golden Silver Lake Hospital, and successfully creating "Golden Willow Leaf" projects for institutions like The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. By providing Swisslog Medical's TransGuard track logistics system, KUKA can meet higher material transfer requirements and user experience needs, creating new benchmarks for smart hospitals.

Looking ahead, Midea is focusing on three aspects of humanoid robots: First, research, development, and application of core robot components. In 2024, the company was recognized as a "2024 Humanoid Robot Supply Chain Quality Enterprise" at the China Humanoid Robot Technology Application Summit. Second, the robotization of home appliances, integrating robot and AI technologies such as visual recognition, robotic arms, and human-machine interaction into home appliance products. Third, focusing on the development of complete robots, deeply exploring application scenarios and actively laying out core technologies.

Additionally, KUKA assists Midea Group in enhancing its intelligent manufacturing level. By the end of 2024, Midea's robot usage density reached 640 units per 10,000 people, with plans to further increase investment to enhance intelligent manufacturing capabilities. As of the end of 2024, Midea owned 37 national-level green factories, 13 green supply chain factories, 9 5G factories, 3 excellent intelligent factories, 3 zero-carbon factories, and 6 world-class lighthouse factories, fully demonstrating Midea's leading intelligent manufacturing capabilities and digitalization level in the global manufacturing industry. In January 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) announced a new batch of "Lighthouse Factories," with Midea's Intelligent Building Technology Chongqing Factory successfully earning the title of end-to-end Lighthouse Factory for its excellent intelligent manufacturing capabilities and green industrial practices. This is the world's first AI-enabled lighthouse factory for central air conditioning chillers, marking Midea's leading position in the field of intelligent manufacturing.