Chinese industrial robots developer JAKA Robot has raised about RMB100 million (US$14.88 million) in a series B round of financing led by Asian private equity firm SAIF Partners, according to a statement released on Monday.
JAKA, short for "just always keep amazing," was founded in July 2014 to specialize in the development and manufacture of collaborative robot torsos, intelligent equipment, and the innovation of smart factories. Born in the robotics lab of Chinese research university Shanghai Jiao Tong University, JAKA has developed into a company with over 10 robotics experts and more than 100 senior engineers across two research and development centers in Shanghai, and production bases in eastern Chinese cities of Changzhou and Suzhou.
The Shanghai-based company has developed conveyor systems, palletizing robot systems, liner molding machines, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) for companies in fields like food and beverage, chemical, packaging, electronics, and mechanical processing.
One of its main products "JAKA ZuTM robot," a wireless control system that collaborates with mobile apps, is designed based on the Linux scripting language with good compatibility to provide robot operating system (ROS) driver for secondary development of the system.
Proceeds of this round will be used for the research and development of technological iterations, and the expansion of the Chinese domestic market and foreign distribution agencies.
The company raised RMB60 million (US$8.92 million) in a series A+ round from F&G Venture in March 2018. It also collected RMB15 million (US$2.23 million) in a series A round from Hejun Capital in 2016.
