Moon Yuseok, CEO of Opticore (right), and Zhang Jin, CEO of Xiasun, are shaking hands after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the supply of force torque sensors for humanoid robots at Xiasun's headquarters located in Shenyang, China. Opticore
Opticore, a company specializing in optical communication equipment, is joining forces with SIASUN, China's largest state-owned robotics company, to target the global robotics market.
On July 24, Opticore announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SIASUN at SIASUN’s headquarters in Shenyang, China, the previous day, for the supply of force torque sensors for humanoid robots. The signing ceremony was attended by Moon Yuseok, CEO of Opticore, and Zhang Jin, CEO of SIASUN, reaffirming their commitment to collaboration.
This agreement was reached after Opticore shared preliminary technical data in advance by working with engineers from Robotus, a domestic company specializing in force torque sensor development, as part of its efforts to collaborate with SIASUN. SIASUN positively evaluated this technical data, which led to the successful conclusion of the agreement.
As a result, not only Opticore but also Robotus will participate in the design and manufacturing of the force torque sensors. Opticore will be responsible for overseeing sales and marketing to facilitate the entry of these products into the Chinese and global markets.
SIASUN is a Chinese state-owned robotics company established in 2000 by Qu Daokui, a robotics engineer affiliated with the China Academy of Sciences. The company supplies robots to a wide range of sectors, including industry, transportation, energy, and the military. SIASUN registers thousands of patents annually and, in 2017, became the first China-based member of the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) in the United States.
SIASUN is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) and has a market capitalization of 26.5 billion yuan (approximately 5 trillion won). As of last year, its annual sales reached 4.138 billion yuan (about 795 billion won), making it one of the most technologically advanced and competitive companies in the Chinese industrial robotics sector.
SIASUN has focused on developing advanced manufacturing robots, such as six-axis flexible industrial robots, and has supplied products to global companies including BMW, Nissan, Ford, GM, and Sandisk.
Recently, SIASUN has been actively expanding its business scope from industrial robots to humanoid robots. Force torque sensors are essential core components for humanoid robots, where precise force control is critical.
Goldman Sachs, a U.S. investment bank, has projected that the global humanoid robot market will reach $3.78 billion (about 51 trillion won) by 2035. In particular, the Chinese market has shown steady growth, supported by active government initiatives. This year, the Chinese humanoid robot market is expected to reach 8.24 billion yuan (about 1.6 trillion won), accounting for half of the global market.
Through this collaboration, Opticore has secured a strategic foothold for entering the rapidly growing next-generation humanoid robot market in China. An Opticore representative stated, "It is significant that we have signed an MOU for the supply of force torque sensors with SIASUN, the undisputed leader in China's robotics industry," adding, "We will successfully carry out the project with SIASUN through close cooperation with Robotus."
Meanwhile, Opticore recently expanded its business objectives to include the development, manufacturing, and sales of robots and related products (such as components and software application equipment), as well as the development, manufacturing, and sales of process automation equipment and ultra-precision component processing. The company has declared a full-scale entry into the robotics sector. In addition to SIASUN, Opticore is conducting supply tests for sensor products with several other major Chinese robotics companies and expects these efforts to lead to further collaborative achievements in the future.
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