The initial U.S. purchaser of Lingdu Intelligent Technology’s X-Human robots has suspended a $1.6 million transaction pending adjustments in U.S. tariff policies, according to the Chief Operating Officer.
China’s top producer of specialized cleaning robots for skyscrapers and solar panels is struggling with the halt of its initial contract with a U.S.-based customer due to heightened tariffs on goods from China. This situation highlights the challenges faced by companies amid disruptions caused by policies set forth under the current U.S. presidency.
Donald Trump
‘s trade policies.
Guangdong Lingdu Intelligent Technology Development, known for marketing their robots as X-Human products, secured a contract amounting to 12 million yuan ($1.6 million) from their initial U.S. client early this year. Nevertheless, according to an interview with the South China Morning Post by Jackey Huang Jian, COO of Lingdu, the agreement was put on hold following the imposition of extra duties by the United States.
Both parties are now “waiting for changes” in Trump’s tariff policies, Huang said.
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So far this year, Washington has levied tariffs totaling 145 percent on Chinese goods. Even though statements from both China and the U.S. have been contradictory concerning their trade discussions, Morgan Stanley economists anticipate that they will work towards reducing the tariffs incrementally down to 60 percent by the close of the second quarter.
Despite this, Lingdu’s offerings can now be found across over 20 markets, spanning regions such as Europe and the Middle East. The company’s premier product, the Lingkong robot—now in its third iteration—has ascended the façades of notable structures like the 103-story Guangzhou International Finance Center, the 56-story Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai, and Hong Kong’s 35-story Kowloon Commerce Centre.
The device travels across flat areas or walls utilizing suction pads and rollers, capable of navigating surface irregularities up to 5 millimeters. Equipped with a wastewater treatment and reuse mechanism, it functions for approximately twelve hours on an initial supply of eight liters of water, and each battery charge supports about three hours of operation. The apparatus works tethered to a securing line to ensure it does not plummet to the ground.
The firm stated that a single robot can cover up to 2,000 square meters of wall space each day, which is three times more efficient than human cleaners. According to reports from the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Communist Party, in 2014, it took six individuals three months to clean the 110,000-square-meter exterior surface of the Zifeng Tower located in Nanjing, the capital city of eastern Jiangsu Province.
Lingdu Intelligent, established in 2016, did not have any commercially available products until 2023. According to Huang, the initial prototype designed to navigate across barriers on building exteriors was abandoned due to challenges associated with large-scale production.
The company has since resumed efforts to build obstacle-crossing robots, with a product launch scheduled for this year. Huang noted that advancements in robotic joints over the past decade have made the product viable.
The release of the fourth-generation Lingkong skyscraper cleaning model, designed for smooth surfaces with minimal obstructions, is scheduled for this year. According to Huang, this new version will have enhanced capabilities to deal with sand and wind, along with an improved sewage filtration system that boasts greater efficiency.
In 2023, Lingdu Intelligent ventured into the market for solar panel cleaning. The lightweight Lingguang G2 model has the capability to cleanse up to 1,000 square meters of distributed photovoltaic systems within an hour, whereas the more robust Lingguang G1, tailored for centralized power plants, can clean as much as 4,800 square meters each hour.
Huang mentioned that Lingdu Intelligent, which was initially based in Xiamen of southern Fujian province, relocated to Guangzhou in 2021 due to the city’s robust robotics supply chain, skilled workforce, and favorable business climate, all of which facilitated the company’s production capabilities and international expansion plans.
Currently, Lingdu is undertaking a Series A+ fundraising initiative with an aim for a valuation of approximately 350 million yuan, as stated by Huang. The company’s present investors comprise Science City (Guangzhou) Investment Group and Huangpu Institute of Materials, entities supported by the Guangdong provincial government.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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