The Foxconn Technology Group of Taiwan will reportedly use self-made “Foxbot” to assemble Apple's iPhone 6, which will be the world's first smartphones to be assembled by robots.
According to online media 9to5 Mac, Foxconn, Taiwan's No.1 ITC subcontractor by revenue, is preparing to automate assembly with robots, with the iPhone 6 to be the first to roll off the lines.
Each of the 10,000 Foxconn robots for the assembly lines costs US$20,000-25,000 and can assemble 300,000 smartphones on average.
Media reported Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou as saying that the robots are in the final testing stages and won't be for sale to outsiders due to insufficient volume for internal use, on which Foxconn has declined to comment.
Industry executives feel such robotic automation is the group's first step to boost production efficiency and its next step is to further enhance competitiveness by linking the robots to the Internet of Things to enable inter-communication.
They said the group's factory in the Henan Province capital of Zhengzhou, China, will be the group's first plant to deploy robotic production for it has assembled iPhones mostly at this location.
They also noted that such automation shows the group's breakthrough in robotic manufacturing after Gou pledged in 2011 to build an army of one million robots in three years, with Gou saying the group will add 30,000 robots annually.
Industry executives sayid Foxconn's robots will play only an auxiliary role initially, mainly to install screws on housings, assemble exterior parts and polishing, and that the group's robots have achieved technical breakthrough in boosting defect-free assembling.
After allying with Softbank of Japan to invest in robotic manufacturing, Foxconn plans to partner with American enterprises on such technology and Google is reported to be a partner.
The group will later use robots in healthcare and household applications.
Driven by the news on the latest Foxconn-Apple deal and more new Apple products to be launched in H2, 2014, industry executives estimate Foxconn's earnings-per-share at NT$8.97 for 2014 (up 9.4% YoY), NT$10 for 2015 and NT$10.54 for 2016. (KL)
