• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
ifr graph

By 2020, 1.7 million new robots will be roaming the earth

September 28, 2017 by David Edwards

 

The global robot population is growing at what some might say is an alarming rate. 

As well as the countless millions already tucked away in factories and homes everywhere, there could be another 2 million added to that number by the end of the decade, which may or may not coincide with the end of humanity’s control over the planet and a ceremonial transfer of power to the robots and artificial intelligence.

Purely ceremonial, since some people say they already rule over us anyway. 

According to the International Federation of Robotics, by 2020, there will be an additional 1.7 million new robots in the world’s factories, ostensibly just to do a variety of work and at the same time as pretending not to be interested in taking over the planet.

The IFR confirms China as the world’s largest market for industrial robots, with the Asia-Australasian region expected to increase its purchases of the machines by 21 per cent this year compared to 2016.

 

The IFR further predicts robot supplies will increase by 16 per cent in the Americas, and in Europe by 8 per cent.

The most important drivers of these increases in sales of robots include are:

  • accelerating and changing business cycles;
  • the requirement to produce goods faster;
  • the need for greater flexibility in manufacturing processes; and
  • greater ability to customise products to meet customer demands.

The IFR says many of these new drivers – often collectively called “mass customisation” or “smart manufacturing” – will require “a new generation of industrial robots”.

Collaborative robots, or cobots, are part of that new generation.

Traditionally, industrial robots tended to be caged off, well away from humans, even if they are in the same factory.

Collaborative robots are smaller, more lightweight, and specifically designed to be safe for humans to work with in a collaborative fashion, much like any other power tool.

Cobots are a relatively new innovation, and have been around in large numbers for less than five years, whereas traditional industrial robots have been working away for around half a century.

New computer technology – principally an increase in computing power in smaller chips – is one of the many reasons why it is possible to build collaborative robots.

Now, with The collaborative robot has seen massive growth in the past year or two, and is expected to continue on the same exponential growth trajectory.

Most of the big industrial robot manufacturers have now released their own collaborative robots, and a variety of additional innovations are likely in the next few years because of artificial intelligence and deep learning systems, as well as the continual decrease in the size of computers – even as they become more powerful – and the corresponding decrease in cost: the so-called Moore’s Law.

IFR analysis 

Joe Gemma, president of the IFR, says: “Robots offer high levels of precision and their connectivity will play a key role in new digital manufacturing environments.

“Increasing availability enables more and more manufacturers from companies of all sizes to automate.”

Industrial robots in operation

In terms of units, it is estimated that by 2020 the worldwide stock of operational industrial robots will increase from about 1,828,000 units at the end of 2016 to 3,053,000 units.

This represents an average annual growth rate of 14 percent between 2018 and 2020.

In Australasia the operational stock of robots is estimated to increase by 16 percent in 2017, by 9 percent in the Americas and by 7 percent in Europe.

Since 2016, the largest number of industrial robots in operation has been in China.

In 2020, this will amount to about 950,300 units, considerably more than in Europe (611,700 units).

The Japanese robot stock will slightly increase in the period between 2018 and 2020.

About 1.9 million robots will be in operation across Asia in 2020. This is almost equal to the global stock of robots in 2016.

Top five markets in the world

There are five major markets representing 74 percent of the total sales volume in 2016: China, South Korea, Japan, the United States and Germany. China has significantly expanded its leading position as the largest market with a share of 30 percent of the total supply in 2016.

With sales of about 87,000 industrial robots China came close to the total sales volume of Europe and the Americas combined (97,300 units).

Chinese robot suppliers continued to expand their home market share to 31 percent in 2016.

Top 5 markets in the world

South Korea is the second biggest market in the world. Due to major investments by the electrical and electronics industry in robots, annual sales increased considerably.

About 41,400 units were sold in 2016.

This is a rise of 8 percent compared to 2015. South Korea has the highest level of robot density in the world, about 630 robots installed per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry in 2016.

Korea is a market leader in LCD and memory chip manufacturing.

In Japan robot sales increased by 10 percent to about 38,600 units (2016), reaching the highest level since 2006 (37,400 units). Japan is the predominant robot manufacturing country.

Since 2010, the production capacity of Japanese robot suppliers has increased in order to meet the growing demand for industrial robots: production more than doubled from 73,900 units in 2010 to 152,600 units in 2016 (52 percent of the global supply in 2016).

In the US robot installations increased by 14 percent to a peak of 31,400 units (2016).

The driver for this continued growth since 2010 was the ongoing trend to automate production in order to strengthen the competitiveness of American industries in overseas markets.

Investments have been made to keep manufacturing at home, and in some cases, to bring back manufacturing that had previously been relocated overseas.

Due to this dynamic development, the robot density in the US increased considerably – in particular in the automotive industry.

With a density of 1,261 installed robots per 10,000 employees the United States ranked second in 2016 after the Republic of Korea. Most of the robots in the USA are imported from Japan, Korea and Europe.

Germany is the fifth largest robot market in the world and by far the largest in Europe.

The annual supply and operational stock of industrial robots in 2016 had a share of 36 percent and 41 percent respectively of total robot sales in Europe.

In 2016, the number of robots sold increased slightly to 20,039 units compared to 2015 (19,945 units).

Future trend: smart factory

Industry 4.0 – linking the real-life factory with virtual reality – will play an increasingly important role in global manufacturing.

As obstacles like system complexities and data incompatibility are overcome, manufacturers will integrate robots into factory-wide networks of machines and systems.

Robot manufacturers are already developing and commercializing new service models: these are based on real-time data collected by sensors which are attached to robots.

Analysts predict a rapidly growing market for cloud robotics in which data from one robot is compared to data from other robots in the same or different locations.

The cloud network allows these connected robots to perform the same activities. This will be used to optimize parameters of the robot’s movement such as speed, angle or force.

Ultimately, the advent of big data in manufacturing could redefine the industry boundaries between equipment makers and manufacturers.

Future trend small-to-medium-sized manufacturers to automate

Some robot manufacturers are also considering leasing models, particularly in order to accelerate adoption by small-to-medium-sized manufacturers.

Simplification is a key trend for this market segment.

The ongoing need for robots which are easier to use and to program and the increasing need for ever more flexible automation initiated the development of smarter solutions.

This is especially useful for industries with a lack of specialized production engineers in-house.

So, it is important to provide easy-to-use robots that can easily be integrated into and operated in standard production processes.

Robots that are uncomplicated to use will enable the deployment of industrial robots in many industries to sustain efficient and flexible manufacturing.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industrial robots, Industry, News Tagged With: asia, china, ifr, industrial robots, international federation of robotics, sales

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • 3 Best Site to Buy Instagram Followers UK (Real & Cheap)
  • Email Marketing Automation with Retainly
  • Top 10 Amazing Tips to Transport Your Car in 2023
  • Maximizing Profit on Amazon: Utilizing the Amazon FBA Calculator and Analyzing Price History
  • North America Becomes the Fastest-Growing Regional Market for New Battery Facilities in 2022
  • The Ultimate Guide to Artist Alley: Con Prep and the Magic of Acrylic and Custom Keychains
  • Choosing a Robotic Spindle for Deburring
  • The Future of Modern Application Development with .NET
  • Here are 3 Ways That You Can Use Baking Soda for Office Cleaning
  • How to Get a Crypto Trading Bot

Most Read

  • Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
    Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
  • Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
    Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
    The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Tesla this 2023
    5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Tesla this 2023
  • Siemens unveils its first virtual PLC and new automation products
    Siemens unveils its first virtual PLC and new automation products

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • 3 Best Site to Buy Instagram Followers UK (Real & Cheap)
  • Email Marketing Automation with Retainly
  • Top 10 Amazing Tips to Transport Your Car in 2023
  • Maximizing Profit on Amazon: Utilizing the Amazon FBA Calculator and Analyzing Price History
  • North America Becomes the Fastest-Growing Regional Market for New Battery Facilities in 2022
  • The Ultimate Guide to Artist Alley: Con Prep and the Magic of Acrylic and Custom Keychains
  • Choosing a Robotic Spindle for Deburring
  • The Future of Modern Application Development with .NET
  • Here are 3 Ways That You Can Use Baking Soda for Office Cleaning
  • How to Get a Crypto Trading Bot

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

September 2017
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« Aug   Oct »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT