According to a report in China Daily on February 6, 2026
CR certification for entire product portfolio underscores ABB’s commitment to local industrial ecosystem, smart manufacturing, and collaborative innovation.
ABB Robotics has become the first multinational company in China to secure full China Robot (CR) certification for its entire product portfolio. The move highlights the company’s integration into China’s industrial ecosystem, support for smart manufacturing, and commitment to local standards and high-quality development.
The CR certification is China’s authoritative safety and quality system for robotics, launched in 2016 under the guidance of multiple government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It is the world’s only state-endorsed high-end certification for robotics products.
ABB’s industrial robots—including the IRB 1520, IRB 1600, IRB 1660, and PoWa collaborative series—successfully passed the assessment, marking the first major milestone since ABB’s strategic collaboration with the Shanghai Electrical Apparatus Research Institute (SEARI) last year.
“The first batch of CR certifications is a critical step in advancing our ‘China, for China’ strategy. It recognizes our products’ safety, reliability, and high quality, while demonstrating our active integration into China’s industrial ecosystem,” said Henry Han, senior VP and president of ABB Robotics China.
The company plans to expand CR certification to cover over 120 products by 2026, aiming for comprehensive compliance across its robotics portfolio. The certification also positions ABB to contribute to technical standards and co-develop industry innovations with local partners.
“ABB’s cooperative model, transitioning from ‘compliance’ to ‘co-creation,’ sets a positive example for collaborative innovation across the industrial chain,” said Zheng Junqi, president of Shanghai Robot Industrial Technology Research Institute.
Industry observers emphasize that CR certification acts as both a “passport” for market access and a “booster” for industrial upgrading. According to Wu Yehua, chairman of the Testing and Certification Alliance for Robot, ABB’s achievement serves as a benchmark for the robotics sector, supporting safer, more intelligent, and more reliable development.
Looking forward, ABB plans to continue working closely with local partners, fostering an open, collaborative, and sustainable robotics ecosystem. The company’s strategy underscores the importance of localization, innovation, and high-quality industrial development in China’s smart manufacturing sector.