36Kr Exclusive | Core Team Previously Tackled National Key Large Aircraft Assembly, Aerospace Intelligent Equipment Provider Secures Tens of Millions Yuan in Financing

Author | Qiao Yujie

Editor | Yuan Silai

Yingke has learned that Dalian Kunda Automation Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Dalian Kunda"), an enterprise specializing in intelligent assembly equipment for large aircraft, completed a Series A financing of tens of millions of yuan today. The investor is Taizhou Yongxin Rongyan Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership) (hereinafter referred to as "Yongxin Ark"), and Da'an Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor. The funds from this round will be mainly used for the R & D of a new generation of intelligent assembly systems, the expansion of core product production capacity, and the replenishment of working capital.

Dalian Kunda was established in 2016 and mainly provides intelligent assembly equipment and automation solutions for heavy - manufacturing scenarios such as aerospace. The company's business covers high - precision mobile docking platforms, composite mobile robots, intelligent assembly production lines, and related software systems. Its service targets include large manufacturing enterprises and research institutions in the fields of aviation, aerospace, and aero - engines.

(Image source: The enterprise)

In terms of product layout, Dalian Kunda uses its self - developed robot controller as the underlying platform to form a series of products such as heavy - load mobile platforms (MRP - T) and composite mobile robots (FAMR), and further extends to final assembly docking production lines, intelligent assembly units, and systems such as digital twins and scheduling management software. It can provide solutions from single - machine equipment to whole - line integration.

Compared with automobile manufacturing, the objects to be handled and assembled in the aerospace field are usually larger in size and heavier in weight, and the requirements for positioning accuracy and collaborative control ability are also more stringent.

In response to such requirements, Dalian Kunda has focused on technologies such as heavy - load movement, high - precision attitude adjustment and docking, and multi - vehicle collaborative control, and has developed heavy - load AGV/AMR products ranging from 2 tons to 200 tons. These products integrate laser SLAM, visual navigation, and autonomous scheduling systems, support omnidirectional movement, multi - vehicle collaboration, and cluster control, and can be used in scenarios such as large - workpiece transportation, final assembly attitude adjustment, and flexible production line construction.

In view of the strict requirements for assembly accuracy in the aerospace field, the company has developed high - precision docking and assembly technologies. Through multi - degree - of - freedom error compensation algorithms and force - position hybrid servo control systems, it can achieve millimeter - level repeated positioning of large components and support data traceability and reproduction during the assembly process.

In the process of automated hole - making and drilling and riveting, the company integrates high - precision end - effectors, adaptive force control, and online detection modules to meet the consistency requirements for connection quality in aerospace manufacturing.

Based on the above technological accumulation, Dalian Kunda has implemented projects in the fields of aviation, aerospace, and aero - engine manufacturing. In the aviation field, the company participates in the construction of digital assembly systems for large aircraft; in the aerospace field, it provides final assembly production lines and special equipment for relevant research institutions and model projects; in the aero - engine field, it provides digital workshops and intelligent assembly equipment. Meanwhile, the company is extending its relevant capabilities to the low - altitude economy field. It cooperates with the large unmanned cargo aircraft enterprise Baijing Airlines to participate in the construction of the final assembly production line of the W5000 large unmanned cargo aircraft, providing intelligent manufacturing support for subsequent mass production.

According to the company, as of the latest fiscal year, its operating income was approximately 80 million yuan, a year - on - year increase of 49%. The core business continued to grow, and new business segments were also expanding.

In terms of the team, the core members of the company have experience in aerospace equipment R & D and production line construction. They have continuously invested in areas such as robot control, process software, equipment R & D, and system integration. Currently, the company has accumulated more than 60 patents and software copyrights. In addition, the company has established a long - term cooperation relationship with Dalian University of Technology and carried out joint R & D in areas such as high - precision assembly algorithms, data collection, and analysis.

The following is an excerpt from the conversation between Yingke and Han Gang, the deputy general manager of Dalian Kunda:

Yingke: What are the special features of intelligent production equipment in the aerospace field, and how does Kunda solve the pain points of intelligent production in this field?

Han Gang: The biggest difference between aerospace manufacturing and industries such as the automobile industry lies in the higher requirements for the size, weight, and precision of the operation objects. In the automobile industry, most of the parts handled are lightweight and miniaturized, while in the aerospace field, large components such as wings, fuselages, tail wings, and engines often need to be processed. These components are not only heavy but also have extremely high requirements for attitude control and positioning accuracy during transportation and assembly. Therefore, we have formed core technological advantages in large - load and high - precision movement.

Another important advantage is the high - precision automated docking ability. The assembly accuracy of aerospace products is generally higher than that of automobile manufacturing, and many processes have extremely low tolerance for positioning errors. Through our self - developed automated system, we can achieve precise attitude adjustment and high - precision docking of large components, which is one of the company's core competitiveness.

In addition, the company is also deploying mobile composite robots (in the direction of embodied intelligence). These products integrate a mobile chassis, a robotic arm, 3D visual perception, and a dexterous gripper. They can not only move autonomously but also complete complex operation tasks and can be adapted to different process requirements. Overall, we always base on the core robot technology and provide customized solutions according to different industry scenarios. Currently, we have covered multiple fields such as aerospace, education and scientific research, medical care, and energy.

Yingke: What is Kunda's current position in the niche market of intelligent assembly equipment for heavy industry?

Han Gang: With the development of robot technology and the increasing demand for digitalization and intelligence of large industrial enterprises, the heavy - industry robot market is growing rapidly. Kunda entered this field relatively early, and it is in the first echelon in China in terms of technological accumulation and project practice.

For example, our dual - vehicle linkage and multi - vehicle collaborative control technologies are already very mature. When transporting ultra - large - size components, multiple devices can work together, and combined with autonomous control algorithms and high - precision sensing systems, stable and high - precision operation can be achieved. This is also an important advantage of the company in the field of large - scale intelligent handling.

Of course, we are also continuously optimizing the competitiveness of our products. Instead of seizing the market with a low - cost strategy, we pay more attention to product reliability and delivery quality, so the price may be relatively higher. Our goal is to create higher value for customers through stable and reliable product performance and long - term service capabilities.

Yingke: What are the company's future development plans in terms of business layout?

Han Gang: The company's current customers are mainly concentrated in the aerospace field. In the aviation field, it covers the manufacturing of military aircraft, civil aircraft, and large unmanned aerial vehicles; in the aerospace field, it mainly serves research institutions and military projects.

In the future, the company will further increase its investment in the civil aviation field, especially focusing on the development opportunities brought by the low - altitude economy. We mainly serve large inter - city unmanned aerial vehicles, such as large - load unmanned aerial vehicles for inter - city logistics transportation. The body scale and manufacturing requirements of these unmanned aerial vehicles are significantly different from those of traditional consumer unmanned aerial vehicles, and the demand for intelligent manufacturing equipment is also more prominent.

At the same time, the company will also continue to expand the application boundaries of robot technology. Beyond the aerospace scenario, we are promoting the R & D of medical special robots and the construction of intelligent laboratories and the delivery of curriculum systems for universities and research institutions. These are all based on the company's long - term accumulated core robot technology. In addition, the mobile composite robot products have also had relatively in - depth application experience in industrial scenarios such as machining and are expected to further expand the market space.

Views of the investor

Yongxin Ark Capital said: The acceleration of the mass production of domestic large aircraft and the policy dividends of the low - altitude economy are giving rise to a market for aviation intelligent equipment worth tens of billions of yuan. The Dalian Kunda team has nearly a decade of in - depth accumulation in the field of aviation assembly. Its mobile assembly island solution has truly solved the industry pain points of flexible production of multiple aircraft models and has formed a deep - binding relationship with leading customers such as Baijing Airlines. We are optimistic about the company's ability to expand from components to the whole aircraft and its key position in the process of domestic substitution of domestic aviation equipment. Yongxin Ark will continue to focus on the "hard technology" domestic substitution track and help Dalian Kunda become a leading enterprise in the field of aviation intelligent assembly.