According to Automation World’s recent robotics adoption survey, some vertical industries saw a significant increase in investment in robotics due to the need to socially distance, reorient supply chains and increase throughput, and others saw investment paralysis. As demand for their products fell, their decision-making process was paralyzed by political and economic uncertainty.
Despite the volatile dynamics of the previous year, the general perception among robotics manufacturers, most of which is supported by the survey data, is that strong growth is projected in their area and that robotics adoption .
Robots are currently used as an integral part of 44.9 percent of respondents’ assembly and manufacturing facilities, according to the survey. More specifically, 34.9 percent of robot owners use collaborative robots (cobots), while the other 65.1 percent use robotic arms.
Automotive production, for example, has a high level of robotics penetration. This is due to the auto industry’s ability to make large investments, as well as the rigid and standardized nature of automotive manufacturing, which fixed robotics technology can support, according to Mark Joppru, vice president of consumer and service robotics. ABB.
The packaging industry has also witnessed an increase in automation for the same reason.
However, robotic arms have been used extensively in recent years at the beginning and end of packaging lines, sometimes on moving carts, to perform material handling tasks such as loading, unloading and palletizing. Further growth of robotics in packaging is likely to be concentrated in these end-of-line applications.
According to Joe Campbell, senior manager of application development at Universal Robots, he sees a great opportunity for robotics adoption in those smaller job shops and contract manufacturers whose high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production conditions require greater flexibility.
Campbell believes that the overall adoption rates may be even lower than the 44.9% found in this study, because many of the SMEs it provides business services to are likely to be overlooked.
While many have predicted that COVID-19 will accelerate robotics adoption, one of the most surprising findings of the survey was that 75.6% of respondents said that the pandemic had no impact on the acquisition of additional robots by part of its facilities. Additionally, 80 percent were able to purchase 5 or fewer robots.
Robotics providers are optimistic, with many predicting that now that the election is over and COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, much demand will return in areas where market hesitancy has hampered robotics adoption. Meanwhile, those industries that have already seen a boost are projected to accelerate much more.
56.5 percent of respondents want to buy cobots, while 43.5 percent intend to buy traditional industrial robots.
Only 38.5 percent were interested in particular collaboration capabilities. As for the criteria driving individual robot purchases, 52.8% indicated simplicity of use and 52.6% mentioned end-of-arm tooling options. This finding suggests that the increased demand for cobots by end users may be driven by flexibility rather than collaborative safety features.
However, more rapid growth is expected as more people adopt more flexible robotic systems.
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