China's economic development has been defined by relentless speed. Just as the country industrialized, it appears that it will also move to a post-industrial economy just as quickly. This change poses significant challenges for Chinese society and politics, but represents a huge opportunity for investors in the form of increasing demand for industrial robots-machines which do routine factory work. China is the largest exporter of goods in the world and the competitiveness of the country's industry has been based in large part on the cheap labor available in China. But as the nation's population rapidly ages and its workers demand higher wages, Chinese industry is looking towards industrial robots to fill the gaps. 

One in four industrial robots sold in the world last year were sold in China.This represents a 17% increase in sales in the country since last year and makes China's industrial robot market larger than the whole of Europe's, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The country lacks the engineering expertise to manufacture many of these robots, so around two-thirds are imported, though this percentage is decreasing as the country's skilled workforce develops. U.S. semiconductor giant Intel just announced it is planning to invest millions each year in Chinese start-ups, focusing on robotics companies. China's largest robot maker, Siasun, is attempting to buy up robotics companies in Europe to increase its own manufacturing capacity. Domestic competition among robot manufacturers in China has become extremely fierce and is driving prices down-good for manufacturing companies looking to buy more robots. Apple's (AAPL  ) main manufacturer of i-phones, Foxconn, has also invested heavily in industrial robots. This will likely mean lower costs for Apple, which should further increase profits for the technology giant. 

The widespread adoption of industrial robots will likely result in the Chinese economy becoming more efficient and productive, which is good news for investors looking to put money in China. But investors need to also realize the social impact industrial robots could have. While most economists think that innovation in the long term is good for workers, as it increases their wages and allows them to engage in more complex and creative tasks. Yet in the short term it causes massive disruption to the economy. 30% of China's workforce works in industry and another 30% in agriculture, another sector of the economy which is going through automation trends. In the next decade the country faces the prospect of a large segment of the population-displaced factory workers and farmers who are unable to find new work. Investors need to be conscience of this possibility. Political unrest in China would represents a huge threat to the country's economy and to investor assets. Investors need to be conscience of the risks involved in future developments. 

Industrial robots will continue to automate industry the world over. Just as most agricultural workers were eventually replaced by machines, it is likely in the coming decades most industrial workers will be replaced. This change is a massive opportunity for investors, who should look towards companies which are realizing this change and using it to their advantage.