New orders jump for robotics

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 10/1/2004

Orders for robotic technology grew worldwide by 10% to $513 million through the first six months of 2004, reports the Robotic Industries Association. The number of units sold grew by 18% to 8,539.

In fact, new orders for materials handling robots, the largest single application area, posted even better growth, with an increase of 26% over the previous year (see chart).

"The opening half of 2004 was very strong," said Donald A. Vincent, executive vice president of RIA. "It's clear that the improvement in the North American economy, combined with pent-up demand for robots, fueled solid gains for our industry."

RIA estimates that some 140,000 industrial robots are in use in the United States alone. And while automotive companies and their suppliers account for about 65% of the robots sold in North America, that is down from 75% the previous year. "We're seeing very healthy gains in industries such as semiconductors and electronics, metals, plastics and rubber, food and consumer goods, and life sciences and pharmaceuticals," Vincent said.

Driving that growth, Vincent added, "is the need for manufacturers to produce higher quality products at a lower price, and to be fast and flexible enough to compete with competitors throughout the world."