Chinese robotics startup Slabor has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in a seed funding round led solely by Plum Ventures. The company said the funds will accelerate product iteration, expand its hardware lines, and scale distribution channels.
Headquartered in Guangming, Shenzhen, Slabor develops robots to automate screw tightening, which is a common but intricate step in industrial manufacturing. Its offerings include four- and six-axis tightening robots, intelligent fastening tools, and integrated robotic workstations. The technology is already in use at companies like BYD, Ecovacs, and Sunwoda.
Manual tightening processes remain inefficient and inconsistent globally, particularly as labor costs rise and traceability becomes more important. Traditional XYZ module-based systems often fall short in high-precision settings, where the ability to extract production data, accommodate design changes, and support customization is essential.
Founder Bai Fengfeng told 36Kr that products like new energy vehicles and smart home appliances now have shorter iteration cycles and higher demands for assembly reliability. This creates greater expectations for tightening consistency, robotic flexibility, and data integration. To meet these demands, Slabor offers a dedicated tightening robot that combines a robot-based mechanical system with PC-based control and smart tools.
Foreign players like Epson and Atlas Copco have long dominated the high-end tightening space with costly, complex solutions that may offer only limited support. Meanwhile, domestic competitors like Inovance and Estun typically focus on general-purpose industrial robotics. Slabor targets a less saturated niche: process-specific robotic automation.
According to Bai, legacy systems often require assembling disparate components—robots, electric screwdrivers, vision systems—resulting in high costs and poor integration. Slabor’s approach bundles proprietary robotics and tightening technology into one system. The company claims this reduces machine costs to around 60% of comparable systems and cuts delivery lead times significantly.
On the hardware front, Slabor’s SCARA (selective compliance assembly robot arm) robots are equipped with proprietary smart tightening tools. These tools reportedly deliver top-tier repeatable positioning accuracy and support a wide range of screw sizes. Slabor says its system improves tightening efficiency by 15–30% per screw compared to conventional setups. Real-time monitoring of torque, angle, and pressure ensures control precision within 1%, with performance metrics said to rival international leaders.
The software system is modular and integrates robot control with tightening processes. It features guided workflows, role-specific interfaces, and intuitive design. Setup is simplified through one-click teaching that overlays CAD files with vision data.
On the commercial front, following deployments with major automotive clients like BYD and Great Wall Motor, as well as smart home appliance makers such as Ecovacs and Roborock, Slabor is ramping up its channel marketing. The company is leveraging standardized product models alongside a robust sales network to broaden its market reach. It has signed nearly 100 distribution partners and is further developing its end-to-end smart assembly solutions.
Looking ahead, Bai said the company will focus on three core pillars: performance, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. Structurally, Slabor aims to boost component reusability and customization through a modular product architecture. On the software side, it plans to refine configuration tools and interface design to support more efficient workflow management. To enhance operational performance in demanding environments, the company is introducing industry-specific training models.
Slabor’s leadership team brings deep expertise in motion control and automation. Bai previously held sales leadership positions at two US-listed companies. The core R&D team includes graduates from Harbin Institute of Technology and Beijing Institute of Technology, each with over a decade of experience in the field.
“We’ve always believed in technology’s potential to reshape the future, and artificial intelligence-powered tightening robots are a critical part of that transformation,” said Wu Shichun, founding partner at Plum Ventures. “Slabor stands out for its technical edge, strong product portfolio, and market insight. We see significant value in its approach.”
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Lin Qingqing for 36Kr.