By March 27, 2014 Read More →

Table tennis star takes on fast, flexible KUKA robot

140327_KUKAFollowing the start-up of its new production facility in Shanghai, KUKA celebrated its opening in the company of guests from China and abroad. At centre stage was one of the best-known Germans in China; table tennis star Timo Boll. The premiere of a film in which Boll competes against a KUKA robot was a highlight of the event.

The contest celebrated the inherent speed, precision and flexibility of KUKA’s KR Agilus industrial robot, in tandem with Boll’s electrifying and tactical prowess in competition. In the early stages, the KUKA KR Agilus certainly demonstrated its skills with the table tennis bat, taking the first six points and providing a realistic vision of what robots can be capable of in the future. But in the end it was Boll who triumphed, winning a close-fought contest by eleven points to nine.

On the opening of the new facility, Kong Bing, CEO of KUKA Robotics China, explains: “The demand in China for automation solutions is enormous. I am delighted that our new production facility puts us in an excellent position here.”

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