AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
one in the global top five ) were up by 7 % to 28,355 units . Installations in the second largest European market , Italy , declined by 9 % to 10,412 units . The third largest European market , France , was down by 13 %, installing 6,386 units . In the UK , industrial robot installations increased by 51 % to 3,830 units in 2023 . Investment was driven by installations in the automotive industry , mainly for assembly tasks ,” added the federation .
The Americas
India is one of the fastest growing emerging Asian economies . Robot installations there , according to IFR figures , increased by 59 % to 8,510 units in 2023 ( a new high ). Demand from the automotive industry soared to 3,551 units , an increase of 139 %. Both car manufacturers and suppliers contributed to this development , confirmed the IFR .
Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots ( behind China )
Robotised bending operations .
According to the IFR , robot installations in the Americas exceeded 50,000 units for the third year in a row : 55,389 units were installed in 2023 , just 1 % below the record level reached in 2022 .
“ The United States , the largest regional market , accounted for 68 % of installations in the Americas in 2023 . Robot installations were down by 5 % to 37,587 ; this is the third highest record figure after 2022 and 2018 . Demand from the automotive industry fell by 15 % to 12,421 units . This was in line with the average for the past decade . Installations in the metal and machinery industry were up 8 % to 4,171 units . Installations in the U . S . electrical / electronics industry remained steady at 3,900 units (+ 1 %),” explained the IFR .
“ In Canada , robot installations rose by 37 % to 4,311 units . Installation figures in Canada largely depend upon automotive investment cycles . The share of the car industry was 58 % in 2023 . Robot demand in Mexico is driven by the automotive industry , which accounts for 70 % of the market . Installations from this sector fell by 5 % to 4,087 units , showing the cyclical demand pattern well known in this customer segment . Total installations reached 5,832 units in 2023 , a decrease of 3 %,” it continued .
Europe in focus
“ Industrial robot installations in Europe rose by 9 % to a new high of 92,393 units . In total , 80 % of installations in 2023 could be attributed to destinations in the European Union ( 73,534 units , up by 2 %). Delayed projects were completed , and the backlog was cleared in 2023 . Robot demand in the region also benefited from the nearshoring trend . In 2023 , growth was strongly driven by the automotive industry investing in traditionally strong car manufacturing countries such as Spain ( 5,053 units , + 31 %) but also in smaller markets such as Slovakia ( 2,174 units , + 48 %) or Hungary ( 1,657 units , + 31 %),” outlined the IFR .
“ Installations in Germany ( the largest European market and the only European
54 | ismr . net | ISMR October 2024