The robotics market has been in high demand in recent years, offering easy, cost-effective solutions with a minimum amount of failures. Of course, the benefits of new technologies have allowed for lower prices and a quick return on investment (ROI). These factors have driven the rapid growth and adoption of robotic systems, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to acquire them and thus improve their productivity.
Robotic automation has managed to design solutions for different industrial sectors, such as the electronics, chemical, rubber, plastics, machinery, metals, food and beverages, and agriculture sectors. However, the automotive industry continues to be at the top when it comes to acquiring this technology.
Analysts of the industrial robots market expect that for this year, more than 1.4 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories around the world, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% during 2019-2014.
The Chinese industry has a market share of 36% of the total supply. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China has had the most industrial robots in operation worldwide since 2016. By 2020, China is expected to produce 150,000 units of industrial robots and to have 950,300 industrial robots in operation. Researchers attribute their increase in the robotics industry to their scale, growth momentum and capital.
The Japanese industry ranks second in the robotics market with a 45% growth in their export rate between 2016-2017. Manufacturer number 1 of industrial robots, reaching a production capacity of 153,000 units in 2016, it currently comprises 52% of the world supply of robots.
Industry in the Republic of Korea
This market has the highest density of robots in the world; it has around 630 robots per 10,000 employees, placing it in third place in the robotics market. In 2016, close to 41,400 robots were sold, an increase of 8% compared to 2015. The sector that drives this market is the electrical/electronics sector.
Industry in the United States of America
This country has shown high growth in the demand for robotic installations in 2017, installing 33,192 units, with 189 robots per 10,000 employees, which is 6% higher than in 2016. An increase of approximately 15% is projected for 2020.
German Industry
This industry is stimulated by the productive development and configuration of automated manufacturing lines. Leading the European robotics market; in 2017, the number of robots sold increased by 7% to 21,404 units. The International Robotics Federation anticipates that the robot installations will have a compound annual growth rate of at least 13% during the period from 2017 to 2019. It is also estimated that more than 1.4 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories around the world from 2017 to 2019.