ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
Japan is the world ´ s predominant robot manufacturing country with a market share of 46 % of global robot production
These significant findings were presented by the IFR ’ s General Secretary at the recent ISR Europe 2023 event in Stuttgart ( Germany ). The event is a collaborative effort between the University of Stuttgart ; VDE ; Fraunhofer IPA ; VDMA Robotics and Automation , and the IFR .
Focus on the Asian region
According to the report , China is by far the world ´ s largest robotics market . In 2022 , annual installations of 290,258 units replaced the previous record of 2021 with 5 % growth .
“ This latest gain is remarkable since it even tops the 2021 result that [ represented ] a 57 % jump compared to 2020 . To serve this dynamic market , domestic and international robot suppliers have established production plants in China and continuously increased capacity . On average , annual robot installations have grown by 13 % each year ( 2017-2022 ),” commented the IFR .
“ Robot installations in Japan were up by 9 % to 50,413 units , exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 49,908 units in 2019 . The peak level remains at 55,240 units in 2018 . The country ranks second to China in size of market for industrial robots . Annual installations gained 2 % on average per year ( 2017-2022 ). Japan is the world ´ s predominant robot manufacturing country with a market share of 46 % of global robot production ,” continued the report .
The market in the Republic of Korea rose by 1 %. Installations reached 31,716 units in 2022 , said the report . This was the second year of marginal growth , following four years of declining installation figures .
The Republic of Korea remains the fourth largest robot market in the world , following the United States , Japan and China .
BlueBotics mini™ mobile robots in operation at ABB ’ s semiconductor manufacturing plant in Lenzburg , Switzerland . Image courtesy of ABB .
Europe
The European Union remains the world ´ s second largest robotics market ( 70,781 units ; + 5 %) in 2022 . Germany is one of the top five adopters worldwide with a market share of 36 % within the EU .
“ Germany ´ s installations went down by 1 % to 25,636 units . Italy follows with a market share of 16 % within the EU : installations grew by 8 % to 11,475 units . The third largest EU market , France , recorded a regional market share of 10 % and gained 13 %, installing 7,380 units in 2022 ,” outlined the IFR .
In the post-Brexit United Kingdom , industrial robot installations were up by 3 % to 2,534 units in 2022 . This is less than a tenth of Germany ´ s sales , said the report .
The Americas
In the Americas , installations were up 8 % to 56,053 units in 2022 , surpassing the 2018 peak level ( 55,212 units ). The United States , the largest regional market , accounted for 71 % of the installations in the Americas in 2022 . Robot installations were up by 10 % to 39,576 units . This , said the IFR , was just shy of the peak
A FANUC CR-7iA / L collaborative robot supports assembly staff with the testing of control panels . Image courtesy of FANUC .
KUKA cobot testing . Image courtesy of KUKA .
ISMR October 2023 | ismr . net | 27