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reflecting resilience and adaptability as automation strengthened its role across industries. According to new data from the Association for Advancing Automation( A3), North-American companies ordered 31,311 robots valued at US $ 1.963 billion, representing slight increases of 0.5 % in units and 0.1 % in revenue over 2023. These modest gains mark stabilisation after years of volatility and recordbreaking growth.
“ 2024 saw a notable shift as non-automotive industries captured a larger market share. Food and consumer goods emerged as the year’ s fastest-growing sector, with robot orders surging by 65 %. This underscores the sector’ s growing reliance on automation to meet consumer expectations, streamline supply chains and address labour shortages. Life sciences, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries also posted strong results, with 46 % growth in orders. These gains highlight automation’ s critical role in advancing healthcare innovation and improving operational efficiencies,” added A3.
Market trends and drivers
A key trend fuelling the growth of industrial robotics is the rise of collaborative robots( cobots). These are robots designed to safely work alongside humans in shared workspaces. They are built for precision in repetitive tasks while enhancing workplace safety. Artificial intelligence( AI) and machine learning( ML) are also revolutionising industrial robotics, enabling AI-driven decision-making and predictive maintenance, which helps to minimise downtime and extend the lifespan of robotic systems.
Another major market driver is the rising demand for flexible and customisable robotic solutions. As manufacturing evolves, companies seek robots that can be reprogrammed and adapted for
Autonomous mobile robots( AMRs).
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Robot control. |
Image: Shutterstock. com.
Image: Shutterstock. com.
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different processes. This adaptability allows manufacturers to respond quickly to shifting production needs, ultimately improving competitiveness and operational agility.
“ Digital transformation, process optimisation and quality improvement are key drivers, with robot integration, digital twin and robot maintenance playing essential roles. Robot safety, a crucial aspect, is addressed through advanced safety systems, machine learning( ML) and robot sensors. Artificial intelligence( AI) and deep learning algorithms enable advanced robot programming and predictive maintenance,” commented analyst, Technavio.
“ Key market trends include the integration of robotics with digital transformation, process optimisation and automation across various industries. Articulated robots, pick-and-place, delta robots and SCARA robots are popular types of industrial robots for tasks like material handling, assembly automation, machine tending and quality control,” it continued.
“ Robot vision, robot sensors and robot control systems are essential components of industrial robotics, enhancing capabilities like human-robot collaboration, safety standards and degrees of freedom. The adoption of advanced technologies like computer vision, machine learning and artificial intelligence is revolutionising the industry, enabling applications in areas like predictive maintenance, data analytics and cycle time improvement,” concluded Technavio.
Industrial robots offer numerous benefits including increased productivity, improved product quality and greater employee safety. With labour shortages becoming a pressing issue, particularly in countries like Japan, the demand for industrial robots is expected to increase. As a result, manufacturers are investing heavily in robotics and automation solutions to meet growing production demands and maintain competitiveness in the market.
Image: Shutterstock. com.
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22 | ismr. net | ISMR May 2025 |