Soochow: Lightweight materials break through, optimistic about magnesium alloy, PEEK, PA nylon leading the transformation of humanoid Siasun Robot&Automation.

Soochow released a research report stating that lightweighting materials is the current mainstream trend, and lightweighting can solve several major pain points in the current humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation industry - such as battery life, heat dissipation, subpar component performance, and lack of flexibility. In order to achieve successful commercialization of humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation, it is necessary to focus on applications with materials as a supplement. The report predicts that materials such as magnesium alloy, PEEK, and PA nylon will be favored due to their excellent characteristics. Recommended targets for lightweighting applications: Shenzhen Kedali Industry (002850.SZ), recommended to pay attention to: Shanghai Hajime Advanced Material Technology (301000.SZ), Hengbo Holdings (301225.SZ), recommended to pay attention to PEEK: Jilin Joinature Polymer (688716.SH), Sino-High (301076.SZ), Zhejiang Zhongxin Fluoride Materials (002915.SZ), recommended to pay attention to PA nylon: Shandong Nanshan Fashion Sci-Tech (300918.SZ), recommended target for magnesium alloy: Ningbo Xusheng Group (603305.SH), recommended to pay attention to: Baowu Magnesium Technology (002182.SZ). Soochow's main points are as follows: Lightweighting is a preparatory course for the commercialization of humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation. Lightweighting can solve several major pain points in the current humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation industry - such as battery life, heat dissipation, subpar component performance, and lack of flexibility. Therefore, mainstream OEMs such as Tesla and UBTECH ROBOTICS are making efforts in this direction. From the perspective of pathways, lightweighting is mainly divided into structural lightweighting (achieved through parameter optimization/topology optimization/form optimization/integration to achieve "zero-cost" lightweighting) and material lightweighting (light metals, engineering plastics, etc.). Since the road to lightweighting has just begun and the design of structures based on materials is still in its early stages, structural lightweighting progresses slowly due to factors such as technical paths not converging and the need to improve the cross-border capabilities of enterprises, making material lightweighting the current mainstream pathway. Engineering Plastic - PEEK: Top of the engineering plastic pyramid. PEEK material is at the top of the engineering plastic pyramid, with excellent performance characteristics such as good mechanical properties, high heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and excellent processing characteristics. It is mainly used in aerospace, automotive, electronics and electrical fields. In 2024, the price of PEEK reached approximately 300,000 yuan/ton, with raw material fluoroketone being the main source (cost accounting for 50%), priced at 120,000 yuan/ton. The main challenges in the production of PEEK are due to the fluoroketone and PEEK processes and capacity contributing to high barriers. The balance of core indicators such as melt index, viscosity, and crystallinity of PEEK, as well as further modification to optimize performance, is a lengthy process with many variables that are difficult to control. On the demand side, the global/Chinese PEEK market space in 2024 was 6.1/1.9 billion yuan, and is expected to reach 8.5/2.8 billion yuan by 2027, with a CAGR of 11%/13%, respectively. On the supply side, in 2021, the combined market share of the three major overseas giants (Victrex, Solvay, and Evonik) reached 86%, with Jilin Joinature Polymer accounting for only 8%. Metal Material - Magnesium Alloy: Mature applications, economic benefits emphasized. Magnesium alloy is a high-quality lightweight alloy with high strength, good ductility, and strong electromagnetic interference resistance, and has been widely used in automotive lightweighting. As of May, magnesium prices are at a low level, with a magnesium-aluminum price ratio of only 0.87 (price ratio = 1.29, magnesium-aluminum costs are basically the same), achieving cost reduction while lightweighting. Baowu Magnesium Technology and Estun Automation jointly launched the magnesium alloy industrial Siasun Robot & Automation "ER4-550-MI," reducing weight by 11%, reducing energy consumption by 10%, improving cycle time by 5%, while also improving damping, electromagnetic shielding, and heat dissipation. In humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation, the energy consumption reduction from using magnesium alloy is expected to be even greater, with potential applications in components such as skeletons and shells. Engineering Plastic - PA Nylon: Excellent flexibility, mature applications. PA6 and PA66 are engineering plastics with excellent impact resistance and flexibility. The demand is mature and stable, with a CAGR of less than 5% from 2018 to 2023. The distribution of PA6 production capacity in 2022 is less than 25%, and PA66 is more concentrated, with the top three companies (Shenma Industrial, Invista, and Huafon Group) accounting for 75%. In terms of applications, PA is widely used in automotive engines, fuel supply systems, electrical systems, chassis systems, and is reinforced with carbon fiber in the industrial Siasun Robot & Automation's harmonic reducer ring wheels and screw drive systems in the seventh axis. Lightweighting of humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation: Materials are supplementary, applications are crucial. In the distribution of whole machine weight, joint modules account for a large proportion (about 40%), followed by structural components (about 30%), and shells only account for 10%. Therefore: 1) Harmonic reducer: PEEK ring wheels are the first choice for weight reduction, with leading manufacturers already holding patents, and new entrants have released related products (Shenzhen Kedali Industry's subsidiary released multiple PEEK material harmonic reducers in April 2025); 2) Rolled ball screws: Using PEEK has outstanding weight reduction effects, and can be enhanced through carbon fiber or glass fiber modification to meet strength and rigidity requirements, but processing is difficult and it is challenging to ensure precision and efficiency; 3) Frameless motors: The path to lightweighting includes material selection, integration, magnetic circuit optimization, and manufacturing processes, with the core being the selection of magnetic materials and magnetic circuit design; 4) Housing and structural components: These need to provide support and protection together with rigidity and flexibility. Compared to core transmission components, the performance requirements are lower. Magnesium alloy technology is mature and cost-effective, making short-term promotion feasible. PA nylon has high strength, flexibility, and corrosion resistance, and is expected to be widely used in the long term in the 2C market segment. Currently, 1X Technologies uses nylon braiding as the shell material. Based on comprehensive calculations, the market space for PPS/modification PEEK/magnesium alloy/modification nylon in a million humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation (rotary & linear joint) units is 1/20/3/3 billion yuan, respectively. Taking into account market space, competitive landscape, and technological difficulty: PEEK>magnesium alloy>nylon. Risk factors: humanoid Siasun Robot & Automation sales fall short of expectations, competition intensifies, prices decrease.