Robot-Order Records in 2016, But Automotive Flat
July 1, 2016Comments
The North American robotics market has set new records thus far in 2016, according to Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.
A reported total of 7406 robots valued at approximately $402 million were ordered from North American companies during the first quarter of 2016. The number of units ordered in the first three months of 2016 is a new record among opening quarters, growing 7 percent over the same period in 2015, according to RIA, but order revenue decreased by 8 percent in the first quarter. Robot shipments also set a new opening-quarter record, with 7125 robots valued at $448 million shipped to North American customers. This represents growth of 2 percent in units and 21 percent in dollars over the same quarter of last year.
While it is still the largest industry in terms of volume for robotics, orders to the automotive industry grew only 1 percent in the first quarter of 2016. In terms of applications, the biggest increases were realized in spot welding (31 percent), assembly (15 percent) and material handling (6 percent).
Growth in nonautomotive industries soared in the first quarter of 2016. Robots ordered by the semiconductor and electronics (90 percent), food and consumer goods (82 percent), and plastics and rubber (44 percent) industries all experienced sizable increases over the same period in 2015.
RIA estimates that some 262,000 robots now are at use in North American factories, third to Japan and China in robot use.
See also: Association for Advancing Automation
Technologies: Pressroom Automation
