ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
A ROBOTIC FUTURE
The new World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics highlights the latest usage patterns , global trends and technology leaps for industrial robots .
The new World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics ( IFR ) shows an all-time high of 517,385 new industrial robots installed in 2021 in factories around the world .
“ This represents a growth rate of 31 % yearon-year and exceeds the pre-pandemic record of robot installation in 2018 by 22 %. Today , the stock of operational robots around the globe hits a new record of about 3.5 million units ,” it commented .
Rising energy prices , intermediate product prices and scarcity of electronic components are challenging all branches of the global economy . But order books are full and demand for industrial robots has never been higher . In total , global robot installations are expected to grow by 10 % to almost 570,000 units in 2022 according to the IFR . From 2022 to 2025 , it forecasts average annual growth rates in the medium to upper single-digit range .
“ The use of robotics and automation is rapidly increasing . Within six years , annual robot installations have more than doubled .”
Asian markets
Asia remains the world ’ s largest market for industrial robots . According to the World Robotics report , around 74 % of all newly deployed robots in 2021 were installed in Asia ( 2020 : 70 %).
“ Installations for the region ´ s largest adopter , China , grew strongly by 51 % with 268,195 units shipped . Every other robot installed globally in 2021 was deployed here .
The operational stock broke the one-million-unit mark (+ 27 %). This high growth rate indicates the rapid speed of robotisation in China ,” said the report .
“ Japan remained second to China as the largest market for industrial robots . Installations were up 22 % in 2021 with 47,182 units . Japan ’ s operational stock was
A FANUC CR-7iA / L collaborative robot supports assembly staff with the testing of control panels .
BlueBotics mini™ mobile robots in operation at ABB ’ s semiconductor manufacturing plant in Lenzburg , Switzerland .
393,326 units (+ 5 %) in 2021 . After two years of declining robot installations in all major industries , numbers began growing again in 2021 . Japan is the world ´ s predominant robot manufacturing country . Exports of Japanese industrial robots achieved a new peak level at 186,102 units in 2021 ,” added the report .
The Republic of Korea was the fourth largest robot market in terms of annual installations , following the U . S ., Japan and China . Robot installations increased by 2 % to 31,083 units in 2021 . This followed four years of declining installation figures . The operational stock of robots was calculated at 366,227 units (+ 7 %) by the IFR report .
Europe in focus
Robot installations in Europe were up 24 % to 84,302 units in 2021 . This represents a new peak . Demand from the automotive industry was steady , while demand from the general industry was up by 51 %. Germany , which belongs to the five major robot markets in the world , had a share of 28 % of total installations in Europe . Italy followed with 17 % and France with 7 %.
“ The number of installed robots in Germany grew by 6 % to 23,777 units in 2021 . This is
ISMR December 2022 / January 2023 |
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