Field notes

Automate China Blog

Short notes from real sourcing work: client problems, supplier conversations, Chinese robotics observations, and the small details that decide whether an automation project survives contact with the factory floor.

All field notes

Client lessons, supplier screening notes, and China robotics observations.

Short, practical posts from real sourcing work. Client details stay anonymized; the technical decision logic stays useful.

June 3, 2026 Robotics sourcing 4 min read

Latest field note

How we scope China visits for cobots, dexterous hands, and actuators.

A product-manager view of an anonymized robotics sourcing case: dexterous manipulation hardware, actuator suppliers, cobot-compatible components, humanoid platforms, and a tight visit window.

Read the robotics note

June 3, 2026 Tube bending automation 5 min read

Field note

How we evaluated China suppliers for a grab-bar bending automation line.

A first-person view of an anonymized client project: aluminum tube bending, an existing cobot, supplier proposals, and the tradeoff between retrofit reuse and new-line integration.

Read the grab-bar note