ISMR November 2021 | Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

U . S . robot orders increase 67 %

Robot orders in the second quarter of 2021 as industries recognize the benefits of in North America were up by 67 % over the automation . same period in 2020 , showing a return to pre- According to A3 , the substantial increases COVID 19 pandemic demand for automation in robot orders in Q2 came from companies as manufacturers and other North American in metals ( up 99 % over Q2 2020 ); automotive companies return to business . According to components ( up 85 %); semiconductor & the Association for Advancing Automation electronics / photonics ( up 62 %); plastics & ( A3 ), North American companies ordered rubber ( up 51 %); food & consumer goods 9,853 robots valued at US $ 501 million in Q2 ( up 51 %); automotive OEM ( up 49 %) and life 2021 , up from 5,196 sold in Q2 2020 , the peak sciences / pharmaceutical / biomed ( up 21 %). of the pandemic .
In addition to the large increase in robotic
The Q2 2021 increase , which marks the orders , machine vision , motion control and third-highest quarter on record for robot units motor markets saw record increases over sold overall , also showed more than half Q2 2020 , A3 ’ s report shows . North American ( 5,530 ) came from non-automotive customers machine vision statistics reveal that the market expanded 26 % to US $ 764 million , a new record . For January through to June 2021 , the North American machine vision market grew 18 % to US $ 1.5 billion , which ‘ is the best start to a year on record ’.
The motion control and motors sector recorded US $ 1.065 billion in shipments , 13 % greater than Q2 2020 sales and setting a new record . Motors , actuators and mechanical systems and electronic drives saw the largest increases . n
www
. automate . org

Structural steel market

The global structural steel market size is
bridges , and factories . Growth in the
expected to reach US $ 146.41 billion by
manufacturing sector is expected to propel
2028 , according to a new report by Grand
the need for new factories and plants .
View Research , Inc ., expanding at a CAGR
The non-residential application segment
of 5.3 % over the forecast period . Market
is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR ,
growth is attributed to growth in the
in terms of revenue , over the forecast
construction sector and rising demand for
period due to rising renovation activities and
steel as a green and sustainable material .
spending on infrastructure development . The
“ Structural steel is utilised for
industrial sub-segment led non-residential
construction-related applications . Its high
applications in 2020 . Increasing construction
carbon content offers high strength and
of lightweight industrial building systems
low ductility . It is available in the form of
that make use of thin sheet-covered surfaces
various shapes such as I-beam , Z-shape ,
is a recent technological development ,
angle , tee , bar and rod , depending upon
which is driving demand for high-strength
the applications . It can be customised into
structural steel .
a variety of shapes in different thicknesses
“ Asia Pacific was the dominant regional
and sizes , owing to its ductility . Based on
market in 2020 and this trend is anticipated
application , the market is segmented into
to continue over the forecast period .
residential and non-residential , where the
Growing construction spending in developing
latter dominates the market in terms of
economies of this region is anticipated to
revenue share ,” said the analyst .
augment product demand . Companies are
Growing spending on the commercial
striving to recover from their losses caused
sector & infrastructural developments across
by the COVID-19 pandemic and are taking
various nations is augmenting product
initiatives , such as mergers & acquisitions
demand in non-residential applications .
and capacity expansions , to further widen
Structural steel is widely used in numerous
their reach ,” added the analyst .
industrial sectors owing to its high strengthto-weight
The Middle East & Africa is expected to
ratio . In the construction industry ,
register the second fastest CAGR of 5.1 %,
it is utilised in designing and building
in terms of revenue , over the forecast
industrial spaces such as warehouses
period . n

Fixing on the future

From 17-18 November 2021 , the fastener and fixing community came together at Fastener Fair CONNECT . The new digital event connected international attendees from various industrial sectors looking to source the latest products , equipment and services from fastening technology suppliers . The interactive networking event also offered a platform for in-depth expert talks and knowledge transfer .
A total of 551 attendees from 47 countries accessed the platform to meet suppliers , conduct business meetings and learn about the latest trends , policies and developments . A total of 163 exhibiting companies took advantage of the digital offering , presenting hundreds of product showcases to allow visitors to explore new products and services in more detail virtually .
Fastener Fair CONNECT also featured a webinar programme with seven sessions discussing the latest fastener and fixing technology trends and policies . The audience listened to industry experts discussing the sector ’ s hot topics and interacted with speakers during the Q & A sessions . The webinars covered insights such as safety and security fasteners ; complementary fastening & additive technologies ; augmented reality ; technical coating processes and European regulations for structural fixings .
“ Fastener Fair CONNECT was launched to offer the global fastener and fixing industry the opportunity to get together , keep connected , conduct business and learn from educational content to keep the momentum whilst waiting for the live events to resume ,” commented Liljana Goszdziewski , Portfolio Director of the European Fastener Fairs , on behalf of Mack-Brooks Exhibitions , organiser of Fastener Fair CONNECT . “ We are now looking forward to meeting the industry face-to-face next year at Fastener Fair Italy in Milan and Fastener Fair Stuttgart in Germany in 2023 .”
Fastener Fair CONNECT is the first online marketplace and digital business platform unifying Fastener Fair shows worldwide . The event digitally merged five relevant regional markets for the fastener and fixing industry , thanks to collaboration between the international Fastener Fair events : Fastener Fair Stuttgart ; Fastener Fair Italy ; Fastener Fair Mexico ; Fastener Fair USA and Fastener Fair India .
All Fastener Fair CONNECT webinars are available to view on demand via the platform at www . fastenerfair-connect . com / events / ondemand n
6 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR November 2021