SOLID RECOVERY: NORTH AMERICAN ROBOT ORDERS UP 34 PERCENT

North American-based robotics companies reported strong gains in the first nine months of 2010, according to new statistics released by Robotic Industries Association (RIA) (Ann Arbor, MI), the industry’s trade group.

A total of 9,628 robots valued at $618.4 million were ordered through September by North American manufacturing companies. This represents a gain of 34 percent in units and 45 percent in dollars over the same period in 2009. Companies outside of North America ordered another 1,778 robots valued at $102.6 million from North American based robotics companies during the period, a gain of 143 percent in units and 168 percent in dollars over the first nine months of 2009.

“Overall, 2010 has been a solid recovery year for the robotics industry in North America,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of RIA. “What really jumps out at me is that orders placed by non-automotive customers in North America jumped 53 percent and accounted for 52 percent of all orders through September. Orders to automotive-related customers, the largest robotics market, increased 18 percent, which is still quite healthy given the downsizing in North American automotive manufacturing operations,” Burnstein explained.

Burnstein said the biggest gains in non-automotive orders came in semiconductor/
electonics/photonics (+124 percent), metals (+99 percent), plastics and rubber (+62 percent), life sciences/pharmaceuticals/medical devices (+54 percent), and food and consumer goods (+41 percent). In automotive, the biggest increase was in orders to the automotive component suppliers (+58 percent) as opposed to the automotive manufacturers (+2 percent). In terms of applications, the biggest gains came in orders for coating and dispensing (+78 percent), arc welding (+65 percent) and material handling (+60 percent).

Burnstein expects to see continued growth in the material handling sector, the largest application area for robots, as robots expand into more industries. “Material handling is important to just about every industry and robots are reaching new users all the time,” he said. “A number of great robot applications for material handling will be showcased at the Automate 2011 show next March 21-24 in Chicago, which will be collocated with ProMat, the leading show for material handling and logistics in North America.”

Another bright spot in the nine-month report is that robot orders in Canada jumped 67 percent in units. Canada accounts for about nine percent of the North American market. “The increases we’re currently seeing reflect the value that robots are providing to U.S. manufacturers in improved productivity and enhanced global competitiveness,” said John Dulchinos, president and CEO of Adept Technology, who is chair of the RIA Statistics Committee.

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www.robotics.org