But still, for every 10,000 employees, there are only 36 robots in China, compared with 478 in South Korea, 292 in Germany and 164 in the United States in 2014.
As the surging labor cost is pushing more enterprises to embrace robots, IFR estimates China will account for more than one-third of the industrial robots installed worldwide in 2018, more than doubling over the next two years-from 262, 900 now to 614,200.
Naturally, the growth prospect offers a golden opportunity for domestic robot manufacturers.
In addition to Siasun, the country's largest robot maker by market value, a bunch of new players are getting lured in and many robot makers are upping the ante with ambitious development plans.
"The past two years have seen an explosion of domestic robot makers, partly stimulated by strong policy support," said Luo Jun, chief executive officer of the International Robotics and Intelligent Equipment Industry Alliance, a Beijing-based industry association.
The robot industry is central to the country's Made in China 2025 strategy designed to promote high-end manufacturing.
It is also highlighted in China's new five-year plan, which guides national economic development.
