Demand for industrial robots to accelerate in 2014 and beyond

Sept. 30, 2014 – More than 200,000 industrial robots will be installed worldwide in 2014, 15 per cent more than in 2013, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

“The accelerating demand for industrial robots will continue. Between 2015 and 2017, growth will likely continue at about 12 per cent on average per year,” said IFR president Arturo Baroncelli, when the organization released its “World Robotics 2014 – Industrial Robots” study in Frankfurt recently.

The high volume of industrial robot orders will continue to come from the automotive industry, according to the report. Investments in the automotive industry have been on the rise since 2010, and this trend will continue in 2014 and beyond. However, robot supply may slow down in certain markets.

The electrical/electronics industry is increasing robot investments in production automation, as well as in retooling for new production processes. A further increase of robot orders from other industries is also likely, particularly from the rubber and plastics industry, pharmaceutical industry, the food and beverage industry, and the metal and machinery industry, the report reveals.  

Asia is expected to see growth of about 21 per cent in 2014, particularly in China and Taiwan, in Korea and in most of the other Southeast Asian markets. Robot sales to the Americas will increase by 11 per cent in 2014, driven by the increasing demand in North America and Brazil. Robot installations in Europe are estimated to rise by six per cent.

Between 2015 and 2017, robot sales are estimated to increase by about six per cent in the Americas and Europe, and about 16 per cent in Asia/Australia on average per year.

At the end of 2017, it is estimated that about two million industrial robots will be installed in factories worldwide.

A variety of more detailed analyses are included in the report. For more information, visit www.ifr.org.