Research suggests near doubling of logistics robot market by 2020

Sales of robots for palletizing, logistics, packaging, and materials handling are projected to grow at a 10.1% CAGR and reach $31.3 billion by 2020.

These are among the findings of London-based WinterGreen Research’s Industrial Logistics Robots report, for which 25 market leaders and an additional 40 market participants were interviewed.

The study Robots: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2014 to 2020 includes 546 pages and 235 tables and figures. According to a release, worldwide industrial logistics robotics markets are increasingly diversified, poised to achieve significant growth in every industry segment. “As production of goods and services embrace process automation, logistics robots are being used to adapt conveyor belts, end of the line tasks, and loading to a flexible systems approach,” researchers commented. “Process automation depends on introduction of new logistics capability. Robots are set to bring a new industrial revolution more important than anything seen before.”

The logistics robotics industry is off to a fast start in 2014. Growth is fueled by strong demand from manufacturing companies in all sectors for complete end-to-end process automation. The report highlights material handling, warehousing, intralogistics, industrial cranes, lifts, cranes, storage and material flow sectors.

According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the WinterGreen Research team that prepared the study, “The opportunity to participate in industrial logistics robotic markets is compelling. This new market is evolving as new automated process based on breakthroughs and innovation in technology is expressed in robotic platforms. Grippers, microprocessor technology, optics, cameras, nanotechnology, new materials, thin film batteries, and sensors are among the technologies being put to use in innovative ways in robots. The ability to apply any technology from any company is phenomenal.”

The report’s forecasts indicate that markets at $16 billion will reach $31.3 billion by 2020. Fanuc, Schaffer, Daifuku, Krones, KUKA, IMA Industries, Kawasaki, ABB, Yasakawa Motoman, Denso, Pro Mach, Gebo Cermex, MSK Covertech-Group, Panasonic, Coesia Group / Oystar, Toshiba, Siecort Epson, Seiko Epson, Fuji, Yamaha, BluePrint Automation BPA, Stabuli, Clevertech and Adept Technologies are some of the companies mentioned in this report.