Key Points:
- Chinese robotics manufacturers dominated the exhibition floor at the International Trade Fair for Industrial Automation in Warsaw.
- European buyers report that equivalent German or Polish robots cost 3 to 4 times as much as Chinese models.
- Polish distributor Positive Machines has already sold over 500 Chinese logistics robots to local businesses.
- German firm Beckhoff Automation saw its sales in China grow by 10 percent between 2024 and 2025.
The steady hum of automated machines filled the Warsaw exhibition hall this week. The International Trade Fair for Industrial Automation and Robotics ran from Tuesday to Thursday, bringing together global industry leaders. Visitors gathered closely around a humanoid robot built by the Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The machine greeted the crowd with lively, animated gestures as people snapped photos with their smartphones. Nearby, robotic arms from the Chinese manufacturer FAIRINO moved with perfect precision.
These displays highlighted a major trend at the trade show. Chinese companies currently dominate the robotics and automation market across Europe. Many local European distributors filled their booths with hardware designed and built in China. They proudly demonstrated how these machines handle complicated logistics, welding, and cleaning tasks.
At the Positive Machines booth, attendees watched logistics robots glide smoothly across the floor. The machines navigated between fake warehouse shelves to showcase their cargo-handling and transport skills. Michal Zdrada works as a product manager for the Polish company. He explained that his team mainly buys their transportation robots directly from China. The company has already sold more than 500 units to various clients across the region.
Zdrada pointed out a simple reason for this buying strategy. Chinese hardware offers unbeatable value for the money. He noted that similar robots manufactured in Poland or Germany often cost 3 to 4 times as much as the Chinese versions. This massive price gap makes Chinese equipment highly attractive to European warehouse operators who want to upgrade their facilities without spending a fortune.
Another Polish company, named ELTRON, also heavily favors Chinese technology. They spent the week showing off industrial robotic arms made by FAIRINO. Factory workers use these machines to perform heavy-duty tasks such as welding metal, marking parts with lasers, and conducting critical industrial safety inspections.
Jacek Slusarek serves as the regional sales manager for ELTRON. He said his company picked the Chinese brand because it offers a perfect mix of reliable quality and competitive pricing. Slusarek mentioned that the FAIRINO robotic arms received excellent feedback right after they hit the European market. Because the customers love the products, ELTRON plans to continue its strong partnership with the Chinese manufacturer.
Tech4Business attracted huge crowds to its booth by displaying a variety of automated helpers. The Polish distributor showcased Chinese food-delivery robots, humanoid robots, and floor-cleaning robots. Piotr Kozynacki manages projects for the firm. He shared that the founders of Tech4Business spent about 15 years working in the traditional cleaning service industry before launching their new robotics company last year.
Kozynacki said his team conducted extensive market research and screened many suppliers. They ultimately chose Chinese brands like AgiBot, KEENON Robotics, and Lens Technology. He simply stated that the Chinese products offered the absolute best solutions available on the market today.
He also praised the way Chinese companies do business. Kozynacki noted that Chinese manufacturers actually listen to their clients. They quickly adopt suggestions and customize their products based on feedback from local European customers. He said his team feels extremely satisfied working with partners who care about the final user experience. Because China’s robotics industry is developing so quickly, European firms now fiercely compete with one another to become the official distributors for these Chinese brands.
This strong appeal easily extends beyond Poland’s borders. A Czech company, ITS-AIM, shared its success story at the event. Co-founder Szymon Kohut talked about his partnership with Jiangsu Bozhiwang Automation Equipment. The two companies trade industrial wire-processing machines across Central and Eastern Europe. Kohut said Chinese firms hold clear advantages in manufacturing and cost control, which makes trade between Asia and Europe very easy and highly profitable.
Even massive German companies recognize the shift in the market. Dariusz Plewik works as a regional sales manager for Beckhoff Automation. He described Chinese robotics makers as highly influential players on the global stage. Plewik recently attended the massive Hannover Messe trade show and noticed a huge presence of Chinese tech companies there as well.
Plewik explained that China represents a crucial market for his own employer. The Asian nation accounts for roughly 10 percent of Beckhoff Automation’s global sales. The company watched its sales inside China rise by exactly 10 percent between 2024 and 2025. Plewik wrapped up his remarks by stating that China’s industrial and robotics sectors are growing at a pace the rest of the world cannot ignore.
