(Yicai Global) Nov. 5 -- The construction of ABB Group’s robot plant in Shanghai, set to be the world’s biggest factory of its kind, is progressing as planned and should be open by the end of next year, the vice president of the Swiss industrial giant told Yicai Global yesterday.

As a large project, the Covid-19 pandemic has had negligible impact on the plant’s preparations, said Liang Rui who is also head of the China division of ABB Robotics, the group’s robot business department.

The plant, costing an estimated USD150 million, will be the largest, most advanced and flexible robot factory in the world, Zurich-based ABB said in October 2018. The 'factory of the future' will use robots to make robots.

Construction of the 60,000 square meter plant and research hub began in September 2019 in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. Once complete, it will have an annual capacity of 10,000 units, Liang said.

Global robot sales are projected to reach USD130 billion by 2025, ABB said. China is the world’s largest robotic market. The country bought one out of every three industrial robots produced in 2017.

ABB Robotics also runs factories in Vasteras, Sweden and Michigan in the US.

Editors: Chen Juan, Kim Taylor