China's CNC machine tool makers cut into growing demand from robotics, EV industries (Voice_over) CNC machine tool manufacturers in China are witnessing increased demand this year, mainly from emerging industries like humanoid robots and new energy vehicles. Computer numerical control, or CNC, machine tools are automated machines that make other machines. They're often used to cut and shape metal parts that are needed in a range of industries. A CNC machine tool manufacturer in south China's Guangdong province says orders from companies that make robots, semiconductors and EVs have been driving demand. (Sound_bite) Huang Yongsheng, Manager, CNC machine tool company: "Since January, the orders from the emerging industries like humanoid robots, semiconductors, new energy vehicles have accounted for about 80 percent of our total sales, up from about 40 percent last year. We plan to expand our technical worker team by one third this year." (Voice_over) CNC machine tools are in high demand in the robot industry because there are so many metal parts that are curved or that have intricate surfaces. (Sound_bite) Li Jie, Production manager, Precision parts manufacturer : "This is a joint part for a humanoid robot. As many parts have curved surfaces and the structures of some holes are more complicated, the CNC machine tools with five axes are more suitable for such occasions. This year's orders have increased by more than three times compared to last year. Currently, the machines are not enough." (Voice_over) China is the world's largest producer and consumer of CNC machine tools. Data from the China Machine Tool and Tool Builders Association shows that the country exported more than 21 billion U.S. dollars-worth of machine tools in 2024, a four percent increase from 2023. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]