Techman Robot

Techman Robot holds the position of the world’s second-largest collaborative robot manufacturer by market share, distinguished by its proprietary built-in vision system technology. A subsidiary of Quanta Computer—one of the world’s largest notebook computer manufacturers—Techman has deployed over 12,000 cobot units globally across industries including semiconductor, electronics, automotive, and healthcare.

Company Overview

Techman Robot originated as a robotics laboratory within Quanta Storage Inc. in 2012, where engineers developed the first collaborative robot with an integrated vision system. The company spun off as an independent subsidiary in 2015 under the leadership of Shi-chi Ho, who served as General Manager of Quanta Storage at the time.

The TM5, unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) in Tokyo in 2015, represented a breakthrough in cobot design by eliminating the need for external vision systems. Commercial shipments began in late 2016, and by 2018, Techman had captured the second position in global cobot market share with approximately 10% of the market, trailing only Universal Robots.

In 2021, Japanese automation giant OMRON Corporation acquired a 10% stake in Techman, building upon a strategic alliance formed in 2018. This partnership resulted in the co-branded sale of TM series cobots through OMRON’s global distribution network and the joint development of the Mobile Manipulator platform.

Core Products

TM AI Cobot Series

The TM AI Cobot family spans payload capacities from 4 kg to 35 kg, with the flagship TM25S and TM30S models designed for heavy-duty industrial applications. All models feature:

• TMvision: Integrated 5MP autofocus camera system for object recognition, barcode reading, and quality inspection
• TMflow: Drag-and-drop graphical programming interface requiring no coding expertise
• TM Landmark: Proprietary positioning technology for mobile robot applications

TM AI Cobot S Series

The upgraded S series, launched in 2022, delivers enhanced performance specifications including ±0.03 mm repeatability accuracy—a 70% improvement over previous generations—and 25% faster cycle times through increased joint speeds (450°/s on the 6th axis). The series has obtained 31 safety function certifications from TÜV.

Mobile Manipulator

Developed jointly with OMRON, the Mobile Manipulator combines TM series cobots with OMRON’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to create flexible automation systems capable of moving between workstations.

Technology & Innovation

Techman’s core differentiator lies in its “hand-eye coordination” approach, integrating vision and AI capabilities directly into the robot arm rather than relying on external systems. This architecture reduces integration complexity and deployment time while enabling applications such as:

• Automated optical inspection (AOI) for PCB and semiconductor manufacturing
• AI-powered defect detection without manual rule configuration
• Dynamic object tracking and conveyor picking

The company holds patents in Taiwan, the United States, and China, with dozens of additional applications pending. Products have received industry recognition including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, and Taiwan Excellence Award.

Medical and Laboratory Applications

Within healthcare settings, TM cobots are deployed for:

• Laboratory automation: Sample handling, reagent dispensing, and test tube manipulation
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Precision assembly, packaging, and quality inspection
• Medical device production: Component assembly and optical inspection

The combination of built-in vision, force-limiting safety features, and ease of programming makes TM cobots suitable for environments requiring flexibility and human-robot collaboration without safety enclosures.

Safety Certifications

TM series robots comply with international collaborative robot safety standards:

Market Presence

Techman maintains its headquarters in Taoyuan’s Hwa Ya Technology Park with subsidiary offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Busan (South Korea), and Alblasserdam (Netherlands). The company partners with distributors across the United States, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

Quanta Group’s internal deployment of over 1,000 TM cobots provides a testing ground for new features and applications, accelerating product development cycles.

Key Milestones

• 2012: Robotics laboratory established within Quanta Storage Inc.
• 2014: TM5 prototype development completed
• 2015: Techman Robot Inc. founded; TM5 unveiled at iREX Tokyo
• 2016: First commercial TM5 shipments
• 2018: Achieved second-largest global cobot market share; signed MOU with OMRON
• 2019: TM AI+ software solution launched
• 2020: TM12, TM14, TM20 expanded product lineup
• 2021: OMRON acquired 10% stake
• 2022: TM AI Cobot S series introduced with enhanced specifications
• 2023: TM25S launched with 25 kg payload capacity
• 2024: TM30S (35 kg payload) released; company listed on Taiwan’s Emerging Stock Board (興櫃)

Frequently Asked Questions

What industries does Techman Robot serve?

Techman cobots are deployed across electronics manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, automotive assembly, food and beverage packaging, logistics, and healthcare/pharmaceutical applications. The built-in vision system is particularly valuable in quality inspection and precision handling tasks.

How does Techman compare to Universal Robots?

While Universal Robots leads the global cobot market with approximately 50% share, Techman holds second position with roughly 10%. Techman’s key differentiator is the integrated vision system (TMvision), which eliminates the need for external cameras and simplifies deployment. Universal Robots cobots typically require third-party vision system integration.

Is Techman Robot publicly traded?

Techman Robot is not independently listed on major exchanges. The company is a subsidiary of Quanta Storage Inc. (TWSE: 6188), which is itself part of Quanta Computer Group (TWSE: 2382). In 2024, Techman was listed on Taiwan’s Emerging Stock Board (興櫃), a pre-IPO trading platform.

What safety features do TM cobots include?

TM cobots incorporate collision detection, force limiting, configurable speed limits, and up to 31 TÜV-certified safety functions. They comply with ISO 10218-1 and ISO/TS 15066 standards for human-robot collaboration, enabling operation without safety cages in most applications.