Core Hardware Procurement Budget (60%–70% of the total budget)
This is the core of the budget; one should not focus solely on the price of the robot unit itself but must account for the entire hardware chain:
Robot/Automation Units: Robotic arms, mobile bases, and specialized automation machinery; typically accounting for 40%–50% of the total investment, representing the largest single cost component.
Ancillary Functional Components: Specialized tools such as end-effectors, suction cups, and welding torches (10%–20%); vision systems (2D/3D), force-control sensors, and in-line inspection devices (5%–15%). The combined cost of these two categories often rivals that of the robot unit itself and is frequently underestimated.
Industrial Control & Auxiliary Materials: Electrical auxiliaries such as control cabinets, PLCs, terminal blocks, and copper busbar components. Estimate quantities at 1.2 times the equipment count and include a 3%–5% allowance for processing waste to avoid budget overruns due to material shortages later on.
Core Scenario Reference: For an automated welding line producing 10,000 sets of high-voltage wiring harnesses for new energy vehicles daily, the mainstream total budget in 2026 is estimated at 8.5–12 million RMB, with core welding equipment accounting for over 45% of the cost.
