(Yicai) Jan. 19 -- Shares of Ubtech Robotics jumped after the Chinese industrial robot maker said Airbus has purchased the industrial version of its humanoid robot Walker S2, marking the product’s entry into aerospace manufacturing.

Ubtech [HKG: 9880] remained elevated for the whole day and closed 8.6 percent up at HKD144.7 (USD18.6).

The Shenzhen-based company announced yesterday that it has signed a humanoid robot service cooperation agreement with Airbus, under which the European aerospace giant will not only purchase the Walker S2 but also work with Ubtech to explore additional applications of humanoid robots in aircraft production.

The deal highlights Ubtech’s push to expand the industrial use of humanoid robots, with aerospace manufacturing becoming the fifth major application scenario for the company after automotive manufacturing, 3C electronics manufacturing, smart logistics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The announcement did not disclose further details. Ubtech said, however, that its total humanoid robot order value exceeded CNY1.4 billion (USD200 million) last year and that annual production capacity for industrial humanoid robots is expected to reach 10,000 units by 2026.

The company plans to collaborate with more partners to build an industrial ecosystem, expand application scenarios for humanoid robot products, and accelerate technology iteration and upgrades through real-world use, according to the announcement.

Walker S2 is a full-sized industrial humanoid robot launched by Ubtech in July last year, with mass production and deliveries beginning in November. Designed for smart manufacturing, the robot supports human-robot collaboration in complex factory environments, including handling and assembly tasks. In addition to Airbus, existing clients include BYD, Texas Instruments, Foxconn, and SF Express.

Editor: Emmi Laine