B&R Outlines Industrial AI Roadmap: Scaled Application by 2027

On Sept. 18, 2026, executives of B&R, ABB's machine automation division, met with media in Shanghai, including 21st Century Business Herald, to discuss AI implementation, localization progress in China and changing competition.

B&R Global CTO Shao Defeng outlined a timeline for industrial AI: concept validation in 2025, field deployment and testing in 2026, and scaled application expected in 2027. He said AI is increasingly covering the full lifecycle of production equipment, from development to commissioning, operation and upgrades, and is expected to improve flexibility and shorten machine adjustment, update and deployment cycles. He also stressed safety as a bottom line, saying that humans must always retain control over machines.

According to Li Xin, general manager of B&R Greater China, Chinese customers have generally recognized AI's importance to industrial production, but the uncertainty of generative AI tools remains a challenge for industrial applications. Li Xin added that flexible technology is an effective response to rapid market changes.

Regarding localization, Li Xin said the company aims to raise the share of sales from locally manufactured products to more than 80% by 2028, while planning to supply neighboring markets including India, Japan and South Korea. B&R Global CFO An Shen said the company is advancing its China strategy around three priorities: local production, local innovation and R&D, and closer customer proximity.