数十亿元投资只为一张入场券？工厂实探机器人“神经”制造如何突围

Core Viewpoint - TE Connectivity's Suzhou factory exemplifies the critical role of connectors in robotics, serving as the "nervous system" that connects various components, thereby determining the technological capabilities and application scenarios of robots [1][6]. Group 1: Connector Manufacturing Challenges - The development and mass production of new connectors face inherent contradictions between long mold cycles and cost control, which directly impact product costs and market competitiveness [2]. - Balancing technical performance with scalable mass production will be key to future success in the connector manufacturing sector [2]. Group 2: Importance of Connectors in Robotics - Connectors, while small and accounting for only 1%-2% of a robot's Bill of Materials (BOM), are crucial in defining the technological limits of robots [6][9]. - A humanoid robot may utilize 100-200 connectors, and any performance mismatch can lead to operational failures in real-world scenarios [6][9]. Group 3: Design and Production of Connectors - Connectors come in various forms and require multiple manufacturing steps, including injection molding, stamping, and plating, to achieve the final product [7][8]. - The production of connectors involves significant investment in molds, with hard molds taking at least three months to develop, while soft molds can be produced in about three weeks for smaller batches [13][12]. Group 4: Market Demand and Investment Trends - The humanoid robot sector is characterized by inconsistent market demands, leading to challenges in mass production decisions for connector manufacturers [15]. - Recent investments in the sector include a 10 billion yuan project by Wuzhou Xinchun for core components of intelligent robots and automotive systems, indicating a growing interest in this field [16]. - Companies like Sanhua Intelligent Control have announced investments of at least 5 billion yuan in robotics-related projects, highlighting the competitive landscape for component manufacturers [17]. Group 5: Future Focus Areas - The industry must focus on achieving a balance between miniaturization, stability, and mass production costs while collaborating with upstream and downstream clients to design more adaptable products [18].