The Tamesis
SStrong demand for artificial intelligence data centers benefits global optical connectivity vendors. These include RoboTechnik Smart Technology, which provides assembly and testing equipment for optical systems to companies such as U.S. semiconductor giant Broadcom. The company filed for a dual listing in Hong Kong on Wednesday despite its Shenzhen-listed shares soaring 340% last year.
RoboTechnik did not disclose details of its planned dual listing in the filing. The Suzhou-based company joins a growing number of mainland Chinese companies leveraging capital in Hong Kong, attracted by deeper liquidity, a broader investor base and more transparent market pricing mechanisms.
RoboTechnik was founded by Dai Jun, who serves as the company’s chairman and CEO. The 52-year-old owns about 17%. Forbes Dai is estimated to be worth $2.4 billion based on Friday’s closing price of 589.98 yuan.
An engineer by training, Day founded RoboTechnik in 2011 to develop photovoltaic cell manufacturing equipment that converts sunlight into electricity on solar panels. In 2019, he led the company to a 431 million yuan ($63.6 million) initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s technology-focused Growth Enterprise Market.
Amid the 5G craze in 2020, RoboTechnik acquired a minority stake in Germany’s FiconTEC, which makes optical device assembly and test equipment. After gradually increasing its holdings, it will acquire FiconTEC for approximately 1.9 billion yuan in 2025.
Last year, Dai’s early bet on optical technology hit the jackpot as demand for artificial intelligence grew exponentially. Due to the limitations of data transmission based on copper wires, tech giants such as Google, Meta and Nvidia are turning to optical transmissions that are faster, more bandwidth-intensive and more secure. This shift makes FiconTEC’s specialized equipment critical for reliable connectivity in AI data centers.
RoboTechnik cited data from China Insights Consultancy as saying that the company is the world’s largest silicon photonics equipment manufacturer and its market share will reach 25.5% by 2024. In addition to Broadcom, its customers include Cisco and Nvidia.
In the first quarter of 2026, RoboTechnik’s revenue increased 69% year-on-year to 163.7 million yuan, thanks to the “substantial growth” of its optical assembly and test equipment business. However, due to increased expenses such as marketing and research and development, its net loss expanded to 38.8 million yuan from 26.2 million yuan in the same period of 2025.
While a comprehensive breakdown of first-quarter revenue isn’t available, 46% of RoboTechnik’s 949 million yuan in revenue last year came from optical test and assembly equipment. Sales in this segment will increase ninefold between 2025 and 2024. The device is used in cutting-edge technologies such as Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) to enable faster data transfer while consuming significantly less energy.
RoboTechnik’s move into optics could also help offset some losses in China’s solar industry, which faces headwinds from overcapacity and fierce competition. Sales of solar cell manufacturing equipment fell by more than half in the 12 months to December 2025. Its revenue contribution fell from 92.5% in 2024 to about 46% last year.
Before founding RoboTechnik, Dai was the general manager of Yuanjiesheng, a Chinese electronic components manufacturer. He also previously worked at German chemicals maker Henkel and U.S. semiconductor equipment maker Universal Instruments. Mr. Dai graduated from Harbin University of Science and Technology with a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering. He also received an MBA and PhD from Fudan University. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from City University of Hong Kong.
Dai is the latest Chinese billionaire to cash in on the artificial intelligence optics boom. Others include Li Xiaoming, who transformed landscape design firm Huilu Ecological Technology Group into an optical components manufacturer, and Zhang Xingang, founder of photonic chip developer Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd.
