Industrial robots

Humanoid industrial robots

Main article: Humanoid industrial robots

Industrial robots in Russia

Main article: Industrial robots in Russia

Robots in China

Main article: Robots in China

2024

An industrial robot has been released that does not need to be programmed

In mid-October 2024, Hurco and Kawasaki Robotics announced the creation of an industrial robotic system for servicing racks, which can be used on a "turn on and work" basis. The new industrial robot does not require pre-programming. Read more here.

Boston Dynamics cyberdogs began to be used to detect breakdowns of industrial equipment by sound

Boston Dynamics released new software for its Spot robotic dog in late September 2024. In particular, the dog learned to detect breakdowns of industrial equipment by sound. Read more here.

A robot for road repair entered the market. It reduces their maintenance costs by 90%

At the end of January 2024, the technology company Robotiz3d, founded by British specialists from the University of Liverpool, introduced the ARRES Prevent robotic system for monitoring and repairing the road surface. It is claimed that this complex can reduce road maintenance costs by 90%. Read more here.

2023

Global Robot Sales Growth for Nuclear Power by 14% to $1.56 Billion

In 2023, the global market for robots for nuclear power reached $1.56 billion. For comparison, in 2022, costs in this area were estimated at $1.37 billion. Thus, there was an increase of 14%. The analytical company Market Research Future reports this in a report published in mid-October 2024.

One of the key drivers of the industry is the active introduction of automation technologies at nuclear facilities. The observed trend is primarily related to the need to improve safety, efficiency and operational reliability. Organizations seek to reduce the risks associated with human intervention in dangerous operations. Robots can perform tasks that are too complex or risky for human operators, such as inspection, maintenance and repair in radiation-prone areas. At the same time, the influence of the human factor is excluded.

In addition, the introduction of robotic systems in the field of nuclear power is stimulated by technological advances. In particular, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools allows robots to perform complex tasks with high accuracy. Next-generation automated assistants can perform inspections and repairs at higher efficiency and speed than traditional methods. The functionality of such machines is expanded thanks to constant investments in research and development. The authors of the study call the ongoing reconstruction and construction of new nuclear power plants in various regions of the world another market driver. Governments and private organizations are increasingly aware of the importance of nuclear power as a stable and clean source of energy.

Geographically, North America is the leader in terms of robot costs for nuclear power with a result of $0.62 billion at the end of 2023. This is followed by Europe, where expenses are estimated at $0.45 billion. The Asia-Pacific region, with spending at $0.3, is showing significant growth. South America accounted for $0.1 billion, the Middle East and Africa - $0.09 billion. Overall, North America dominates due to powerful technological advances and high nuclear energy consumption, while other regions are gradually increasing their share, indicating a balanced revenue growth trajectory in the global market. Among the largest players in the industry are named:

· iRobot;

· Westinghouse Electric Company;

· Babcock International;

· Hitachi;

· Fanuc;

· Cyberdyne;

· Kuka;

· General Electric;

· Universal Robots;

· Korea Electric Power Corporation;

· ABB;

· Mitsubishi Heavy Industries;

· Areva;

· Teradyne;

· Toshiba.

In terms of usage model, the market is segmented into remote controlled robots, autonomous robots and collaborative robots. Devices of the first type are in demand due to their ability to perform tasks in dangerous environments where the presence of a person is risky. Autonomous robots are gaining popularity because they can work with minimal operator intervention. Collaborative machines are becoming more common as they can work side by side with people.

At the end of 2024, the global market for robots for nuclear power is estimated at $1.78 billion. Market Research Future analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR (average annual growth rate in complex percentages) will be 14.08%. Thanks to this, by 2032, costs will rise to $5.1 billion.^[1]

The number of industrial robots in factories in the world increased by 10% to 4.28 million units

At the end of 2023, 4.28 million industrial robots were involved in enterprises around the world, which is an absolute record. For comparison, in 2022 this figure was 3.9 million. Thus, an increase of about 10% was recorded. This is stated in a study by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), published on September 24, 2024.

In 2023, 541,302 new industrial robots were commissioned on a global scale. This is only 2% less than the record of 552,946 new cars set in 2022. The report notes that 70% of all new installations were in Asia, 17% in Europe and 10% in America.

China is the largest regional market. In 2023, 276,288 industrial robots were deployed here, which is 51% of the total volume of installations in the world. For comparison, in 2022, 290,144 robots were commissioned at enterprises in the PRC. The share of Chinese manufacturers in the country's domestic market has grown significantly since 2022, reaching 47% in 2023. For a decade before that, it fluctuated at 28%. The authorities' focus China on abandoning Western products contributes to the development of the industrial robot segment. In particular, it is expected that the demand for such machines will increase in the second half of 2024.

Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots. The number of installations here reached 46,106 units in 2023, down 9% from the previous year (50,435 units). The demand for robots in the country is expected to remain at the same level in 2024 and return to growth in 2025.

The three leaders in the number of industrial robots being introduced are closed by the United States with 37,587 new machines in 2023: this is 5% less than the figure recorded in 2022. Demand from the automotive industry fell 15% year-on-year to 12,421. This is in line with the average for the previous decade. Installations in the metallurgical and machine-building industries grew by 8%, amounting to 4171 units. Installations in the US electrical/electronics industry remained stable at 3,900 units (plus 1% yoy).

Industrial robot installations in Europe grew by 9% in 2023 - to a new high of 92,393 units. In total, about 80% of installations fell on customers in the European Union - 73,534 machines (an increase of 2% compared to 2022). In 2023, growth in the region was largely due to investments in the automotive industry in traditionally strong manufacturing countries such as Spain (5053 units, plus 31% year-on-year), as well as in smaller markets, in particular in Slovakia (2174 units, plus 48%) and Hungary (1657 units, plus 31%). Installations in Germany, the largest European market, rose 7% to 28,355. In Italy - in the second largest European market - the indicator, on the contrary, decreased by 9% - to 10,412 units.

France, which closes the top three in Europe, also showed negative dynamics - minus 13% compared to 2022 with a final result of 6386 new industrial robots. In Britain, the number of installations in 2023 increased by 51% to 3830 units. The investment was driven by the introduction of robots in the automotive industry - mainly for assembly tasks.

IFR analysts believe that by the end of 2024, about 541 thousand new industrial robots will be commissioned on a global scale.^[2]

China accounts for half of the global industrial robot market

In 2023, the production of industrial robots in China reached 430 thousand installations. At the same time, the PRC accounts for half of the world market for industrial robotic complexes. This is stated in the materials of the Ministry of Industry and Informatization of the country, published at the end of August 2024. Read more here

The global market for industrial robots began to fall

In 2023, more than 500 thousand industrial robots were sold globally - about the same result was recorded a year earlier. However, in monetary terms, the volume of the global market began to decline, which is primarily due to a decrease in the average cost of cars. Relevant data are provided in the Interact Analysis study, the results of which were published on June 10, 2024.

The industry of industrial robots, as noted, grew during 2020-2022, peaking at the end of this period: approximately $14.3 billion. At the same time, in 2021, the increase in monetary terms amounted to 34.9%, and in 2022 - 14.9%. However, in 2023 there was a drop of 2.6% year-on-year with a final result of $14 billion. In the future, according to the authors of the study, the positive dynamics will recover: the market will grow on average by 3.7% per year in the period from 2024 to 2028.

The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with high energy prices and inflation, has led to an increase in the average cost of an industrial robot. However, as of 2023, the average price is on a downward trajectory, and we expect prices to decline by about 3% per year from 2024 to 2028, says Maya Xiao, research manager at Interact Analysis.

Looking at the industry by segment and region, sales of industrial robots for the auto industry in the Americas faced significant pressures in 2023. This led to a deterioration in demand in the corresponding sector, which is one of the largest consumers of industrial machinery in the American region. Overall, sales of industrial robots in the Americas declined 17.3% on an annualized basis. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region experienced slight growth, while in the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East, Africa) supplies remained approximately at the level of 2022.

Overall, the American market accounts for about 17% of global revenue from industrial robot sales. Another 62% is provided by consumers in the Asia-Pacific region and 22% in the EMEA region. The industrial robot market in the Americas grew rapidly in the period immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic - both in the automotive industry and in other segments: companies were actively looking for ways to improve their production processes and reduce costs by automating processes. However, sales growth slowed somewhat in 2023.

The Interact Analysis report also said the three most common areas of use for industrial robots are handling, welding and assembly. The share of the relevant areas in total accounts for more than 70% of revenue in 2023. Moreover, the first of these segments provided approximately a third of sales in monetary terms. This use of robots is most common in the American and European markets. The American robotics sector is characterized by the highest concentration: the five largest suppliers account for almost 80% of revenue and more than 66% of shipments in pieces.

The Institute for Statistical Research and Knowledge Economics of the Higher School of Economics adds that the state of engineering industries plays an important role in shaping the demand for industrial robotics, which are characterized by high added value and complexity of products, a long operating cycle, and many cooperative ties. The technological level of these industries largely determines the effectiveness of operational processes throughout the economy.^[3]

North American Industrial Robot Sales Cut 30% to 31,159

In 2023, companies in North America acquired 31,159 robots for various tasks at enterprises. This is 30% less than the previous year, when purchases were estimated at 44,196 units. In 2021, American companies purchased 39,708 robots. Such data are given in a study by the Association for the Development of Automation (A3), the results of which were published on February 12, 2024.

The report said that robot sales in 2023 were almost equally divided between automotive (15,723 units were sold) and non-automotive (15,436 robots were sold) companies. This means that in the automotive segment, the fall on an annualized basis was at 34%, while the overall decline in all other industries was recorded at 25%.

𝓲

Automation Development Association

Sales of robots rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, as manufacturers tried to maximize the use of machines to produce goods in the face of severe labor shortages. However, then the situation changed. The authors of the study emphasize that in 2023 the most significant annual percentage drop was recorded since 2006. In physical terms, the most serious decline in the entire history of statistics collection was noted. Experts explain the observed picture for several reasons: this is a difficult macroeconomic situation, high interest rates and excessive purchases of robots in 2022.

In 2023, the largest demand for robots from companies not related to the automotive sector was observed in the metallurgical industry. This is followed by segments of semiconductors and electronics/photonics, food and consumer products, pharmaceuticals and biomedicine, as well as the fields of plastic and rubber production, life sciences, etc. At the same time, each of these industries experienced a general decline compared to 2022.^[4]

Excavator robot capable of erecting stone walls without human help released

At the end of November 2023, researchers from the Swiss Higher Technical School of Zurich announced the development of a robotic excavator capable of building walls of stone blocks without human help. The platform was called HEAP - Hydraulic Excavator for an Autonomous Purpose. Read more here.

Named 5 main trends in the industrial robot market

As of the end of 2022, the number of industrial robots in operation on a global scale reached 3.5 million units. The market volume in monetary terms is estimated at $15.7 billion. Such data on February 16, 2023 is provided by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The study highlights five main trends in the development of the industrial robot industry.

1. Energy efficiency

This indicator, as noted, is the key to increasing the competitiveness of companies in the context of rising electricity costs. The introduction of robotics in many ways helps reduce energy consumption in production compared to traditional assembly lines. Automated manipulators operate at high speed, thereby increasing productivity and making production more economical. Modern robots are designed to consume less energy, resulting in lower operating costs. Some installations are equipped with an intelligent power saving system that controls the supply of energy to the robot on demand during the working day.

The number of industrial robots in operation on a global scale has reached 3.5 million units

2. Reshoring

Against the background of the current macroeconomic situation and geopolitical situation, many companies invest significantly in the transfer of production to regions less susceptible to market instability and other negative factors. In particular, such a picture is observed in the semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, the production of microchips requires a large number of complex and expensive robotic complexes. Automakers are also reviewing the geography of production to simplify supply chains. Therefore, the demand for industrial robots in these areas will grow.

3. Robot programming becomes easier

Tuning robots for specific tasks has become easier and more accessible for non-specialists. Easy-to-use software combined with an intuitive user interface replaces complex robotics programming and opens up new automation capabilities. For example, vendors of specialized platforms give customers the ability to control industrial robots without prior programming experience. Startups are emerging that offer specialized software solutions for configuring robots for the needs of small and medium-sized companies. Easy-to-use APIs that allow customers to self-tune robots are also driving a new segment of low-cost robotics.

Market volume in monetary terms is estimated at $15.7 billion

4. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Automation

Robots are becoming part of a single connected digital ecosystem that combines cloud computing, big data analysis and 5G networks . This approach opens up new opportunities in terms of performance optimization. At the same time, AI has great potential for robotics, providing a number of advantages in production. In particular, systems can be configured in real time depending on the environment. AI algorithms will provide cost-effective and fast solutions to various problems - for example, assortment analysis from manufacturers or wholesalers dealing with millions of different products that change regularly.

5. The second life of industrial robots

Since the industrial robot has a lifespan of up to 30 years, updating its technology equipment is a great opportunity to give old robots a "second life." Manufacturers of industrial robots such as ABB, Fanuc, Kuka, Stäubli or Yaskawa have specialized repair centers to rebuild or upgrade former devices in an economical way.^[5]

In South Korea, a robot crushed a worker, confused with a vegetable box

On November 9, 2023, South Korean police reported that an industrial robot crushed a worker to death at one of the agricultural distribution plants. The incident raised public concerns about the safety of automated manipulators used in many businesses.

The accident happened at a pepper sorting plant, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. The robotic arm is responsible for lifting the product boxes and carrying them onto the pallets. The machine was prepared for test launch, however, during commissioning and testing, problems arose with one of the sensors. To eliminate the problem, I had to call a specialist from the manufacturer. robot

At one of South Korea's agricultural distribution plants, an industrial robot crushed a worker to death

The accident occurred when an engineer in his early 40s was inspecting a robotic arm. The car mistook the man for a box of products, grabbed him and pressed him to the conveyor belt, crushing his face and chest. The victim was urgently sent to the hospital, but doctors failed to save his life.

A spokesman for the Donggoseong export agricultural complex, which owns the plant, later said a "precise and safe" robotic system needed to be created. At the same time, the police station, which is investigating the incident, said that the manipulator was not "an advanced robot with artificial intelligence, but a machine that simply collects boxes and puts them on pallets." The police also said that the incident could have occurred due to human error. The robot's sensors are programmed to detect the boxes, and the surveillance camera personnel shows the man walking towards the car with the box in his hands, likely launching it.^[6]

The world's first mobile robot for shipbuilding presented

At the end of June 2023, Italian companies Comau and Fincantieri announced the MR4Weld (Mobile Robot for Weld) platform. This is the world's first robotic mobile system for shipbuilding, its developers say. Read more here.

2022

Global Industrial Robot Market Updates Record

At the end of 2022, 553,052 industrial robots were installed on a global scale, which is a new record. For comparison, in 2021 this figure was about 526 thousand. Thus, an increase of about 5% was recorded. Geographically, 73% of all newly commissioned robots were installed in Asia, 15% in Europe and 10% in America. Such data are given in a study by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the results of which were published on September 26, 2023.

Asian region

China is the world's largest market for industrial robots. In 2022, 290,258 automated installations were installed in this country, which is 5% more than the record demonstrated in 2021. Against this background, domestic and foreign manufacturers are increasing their capacity for the production of robotic systems. On average, the number of robot installations grows by 13% each year between 2017 and 2022.

The second place in terms of the introduction of industrial robots is occupied, Japan where 50,413 automated systems were installed in 2022, which is 9% more compared to 2021. The indicator exceeded the level observed before the pandemic COVID-19- 49,908 units in 2019. At the same time, a peak value of 55,240 installations was recorded in 2018. The growth is on average 2% per year in the period 2017-2022. At the same time, it is Japan that is the leading country - the manufacturer of robots on a global scale with a share of approximately 46% in the total volume of world production.

In South Korea, the market expanded 1% year-on-year to 31,716 units in 2022. This is the second year of slight growth after four years of declining indicators. The country remains the fourth largest industrial robot market in the world after China, Japan and the United States.

Europe

The European Union is the second largest regional market globally with 70,781 new robot installations in 2022 (+ 5% yoy). Germany is one of the five largest countries in the world in introducing industrial robot technologies with a 36% share in the EU. The number of installations in Germany decreased by 1% - to 25,636 units at the end of 2022. Next in the EU follows Italy with a share of 16% (the number of installations for the year increased by 8% - to 11,475 units) and France with a share of 10% (plus 13% - to 7380 units). In Britain, the number of industrial robot installations increased by 3% to 2,534 units in 2022.

American region

In the Americas, installations climbed 8% to 56,053 in 2022, surpassing their 2018 peak of 55,212. The United States, the largest regional market, accounted for 71% of all new purchases of industrial robots in 2022. The number of commissioned automated systems increased by 10% compared to 2021 - to 39,576 units. This is only slightly below the peak level of 40,373 demonstrated in 2018. The main driver of growth was the automotive industry, where there was an increase in installations by 47% (to 14,472 units). The share of the automotive industry reached 37%, followed by metallurgy and mechanical engineering (3,900 units) and electrical and electronics industries (3,732 units).

Two other major markets in the U.S. region are Mexico, where installations rose 13% (6,000 units) in 2022, and Canada, where sales fell 24% (3,223 units). This was the result of a decrease in demand from the automotive industry - the most active consumer in the region.^[7]

Which countries in Europe have the most industrial robots

The largest market for industrial robots in Europe in 2022 remained Germany - 26,344 systems were launched in this country during this period. Such data in October 2023 are provided by the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR).

According to the study, Germany was among the five largest countries in the world for the introduction of industrial robots with a market share of 36% in. EU Next, it was located Italy with a market share of 16% in, European Union the number of robot installations in this country in 2022 increased by 8% and reached 11,620 units. The third largest European market for industrial robots - French - recorded a regional market share of 10% and provided growth of 13% (to 7449 robots).

In Britain, after Brexit, the number of industrial robot installations in 2022 increased by 3% to 2534 units. That's less than a tenth of Germany's sales.

The agency Reuters draws attention to the fact that the volume of the German industrial robot market in 2022 was a record since 2018, when the figure was measured at 26,723 units. Then, due to the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19 , companies began to buy robots less often.

Most often, industrial robots in Germany are used in automotive enterprises - in 2022, more than 6,600 systems appeared there, which is significantly less than in the previous two years (9167 robots were introduced in 2021, 9670 units in 2020).

Robots allow companies to survive, which see their future under threat due to staff shortages, said Ralph Winkelmann, managing director of FANUC Germany (Ralf Winkelmann), which sells about half of its Japanese robots to small and medium-sized businesses, in a conversation with the publication.[8]

North American companies buy record number of industrial robots in a year

The shortage of workers in the United States in 2022 led to the introduction of more industrial robots than ever before, most of which are intended for factories producing electric vehicles and batteries. This was announced in mid-February 2023 by the US Automation Development Association.

The total investment of a North American company in industrial robots in 2022 amounted to $2.38 billion, which is 18% more than in 2021. However, by the end of 2022, demand for robots had declined somewhat, raising questions about how strong demand would be in 2023 amid changing household consumption patterns and rising interest rates initiated by central banks to take control of high inflation. Many companies trying to find workers amid the lowest unemployment rate in the United States since 1969 see automation as a quick solution to the problem, Reuters reports.

Industrial robot

In 2022, companies from North America, overwhelmingly located in the United States, but including To Canada in and, To Mexico ordered just over 44,100 robots, an 11% increase from 2021, and a record, according to the US Automation Development Association.

According to Atlas Public Policy, since the beginning of 2021, it has been announced the construction of new plants for the production of electric vehicles, batteries and the disposal of batteries in the United States worth $160 billion. All of them will need a significant number of different robots. Automation is actively used for "audit" work, inspection activities to check products for compliance with specifications. Robotization should help avoid the situation at enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[9]

Imports of industrial robots in China were three times higher than exports

In 2022, China imported industrial robots worth approximately $2 billion, while exports were three times less - about $610 million. Such data at the end of January 2023 was released by the Chinese Robotics Alliance (CRIA). Read more here.

Kuka has supplied Tesla with an "army of industrial robots"

On December 24, 2022, it was reported that Tesla received a new batch of Kuka robots - industrial manipulators used in production. It is assumed that they will be involved in the release of Cybertruck electric pickups. Read more here.

Global Industrial Robots Market Valued at $15.7 Billion

The volume of the global market for industrial robots in 2022 will amount to $15.7 billion. Such preliminary data were released by Reportlinker analysts in November 2022.

According to experts, the shortage of skilled labor in the manufacturing industry and the growing adoption of the Industry 4.0 concept is one of the main factors for the deployment of industrial robots and increasing demand for them.

ABB Industrial Robot

According to researchers in November 2022, the level of industrial automation has increased significantly in recent years due to increased productivity of enterprises, reduced labor costs, increased efficiency of production processes and improved product quality. In the future, industries such as food and beverage production, the automotive and oil and gas industries will be more prone to automation due to intense competition, which is pushing to increase production speed and improve product quality.

Sales of industrial robots are projected to grow by 14.3% annually and reach $30.8 billion by 2027. The main trends in the development of industrial robots are the introduction of machine vision, artificial intelligence, the creation of collaborative robots that can work in conjunction with humans, increasing the ease of their use, deployment and maintenance. Robots are becoming more versatile, flexible, accurate. When developing them, open source software and digital control technologies are used.

The use of industrial robots is constantly expanding: if previously the main consumer of industrial robots was the automotive industry, now there is an increase in their use in the food, pharmaceutical, electrical/electronic and other industries of the manufacturing industry, which indicates new trends in the development and methods of using robotics.

Industrial sensors are a key technology for manufacturing automation and Industry 4.0 and are devices that can detect events, changes in the environment and provide an appropriate output signal.^[10]

Japanese industrial giant Sumitomo unveils robot capable of navigating curved steel walls

Japanese industrial giant Sumitomo Heavy Industries has unveiled a robot capable of moving along curved steel walls using magnetic mechanisms. The Wall Climbing Robot project was implemented as part of a program launched by the company in 2018. Read more here.

2021

Industrial robot attacked an engineer at a Tesla factory

In late December 2023, it became known that at a Tesla gigafactory Texas in near Austin, one of the engineers was attacked by an industrial one. robot The man suffered serious injuries, including an open wound to his left arm. More. here

Countries with the highest density of robots per 10 thousand employees in the field of industrial production

List of countries with the highest density of robots per 10 thousand workers in the field of industrial production (according to data for 2021)

China ahead of US for first time in degree of introduction of industrial robots

In terms of automation, China overtook the United States for the first time in history. This is evidenced by the data released in early December 2022 by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

China reportedly had an average of 322 industrial robots for every 10,000 employees in 2021. For comparison: in the United States, this figure was 274 robots per 10,000 workers. Thus, for the first time in terms of robot density, China surpassed the United States. According to IFR estimates, in 2021, about 243,300 new installations were installed on the Chinese industrial robotics market, which is 44% more than a year earlier.

Robot density is a key indicator of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world. The new global robot density average rose [in 2021] to 141 installations per 10,000 employees - more than double the six-year-old figure. China's rapid growth demonstrates the strength of its investments, but the country still has many opportunities for automation, "said Marina Bill, president of IFR.

In 2020, China was in ninth position in the ranking of the most automated countries: the density of robots was 246 installations per 10,000 employees. In 2021, the country moved to fifth place, showing a significant jump in the number of robot installations. Moreover, growth is observed in all industries of the PRC. Electrical engineering and electronics are the dominant sectors: an increase in robot installations by 30% was recorded - up to 81,600. The auto industry has also seen significant growth, linked in particular to the production of electric vehicles in China. In 2021, this segment showed an increase of 89% - up to 50,700 industrial robot installations.

While China is rapidly increasing the number of robots in the country, many of them still come from foreign manufacturers - primarily from, and Japan South Korea. Europe According to IFR, in 2020, the total share of foreign suppliers in the Chinese robotics market was 73%.

The most highly automated country, according to IFR statistics, is South Korea: here the density of industrial robots in 2021 reached a record level of 1000 installations per 10,000 employees. The country's electronics industry and automotive sector contribute greatly to the overall density of robots. In second place in the ranking is Singapore with 670 robots per 10,000 workers. Since 2016, the density of robots in this city-state has increased by an average of 24% annually. Japan is third on the list with 399 robots for every 10,000 workers as of 2021. At the same time, it is Japan that is the leading manufacturer of industrial robots: 45% of the total world volume of such installations is manufactured in the country. Germany is the fourth most automated country in the world with 397 robots for every 10,000 employees and the most automated European country. The United States in terms of robot density dropped from seventh in 2020 to ninth in 2021: here, as already noted, there are 274 robots for every 10,000 workers.

Overall, the number of new industrial robots hit a record high in 2021, with 517,385 such assistants installed at factories around the world, according to IFR. At the same time, the number of robot installations increased by 31% compared to 2020. The world's largest industrial robot market is still located in Asia: the region accounted for 74% of all new installations in 2021.^[11]

A robot for applying construction markings went on sale. You can build houses on it and make repairs in them

In mid-September 2022, the company HP introduced a small one, robot Siteprint which, according to the developers, can significantly speed up construction work by offline printing of landmarks directly from drawings to the floor. The manufacturer characterizes its system as durable, passable and extremely accurate for layout. More. here

China's industrial robot production up 68% in a year

China remains the world's largest market for industrial robots, whose production in 2021 reached 366 thousand units, which is 68% more than in 2020^[12] and 10 times higher than in 2015. This was announced on September 6, 2022 by the representative of the Ministry of Industry and Informatization of the PRC Guo Shougan.

In 2021, the production of industrial robots increased sharply in China
Photo: robomatic.ru

According to him, the use of industrial robots covers 60 industry categories of the national economy. In 2021, the density of production robots exceeded 300 units per 10,000 people, about 13 times more than in 2012.

In turn, service robots are widely used in areas such as catering, education, medical care and logistics. According to Tianyancha, an online platform for requesting information about enterprises, as of early September 2022, there are over 439 thousand companies associated with service robots in China. More than 79 thousand of them were registered in the period from January to August 2022.

The technological level of the Chinese robotic industry has increased significantly, Guo Shougan noted. He added that progress has also been made in the research and development of major components including precision speed reducers, smart controllers and real-time operating systems.

The ministry intends to improve standards, testing and certification systems, intensify efforts to strengthen weaknesses in the field of special materials, key components and processing technologies. The agency will also continue to contribute to the development of high-quality enterprises and create favorable conditions for the robotic industry, concluded Guo Shougan.^[13]

In 2021, China installed almost as many robots in its factories as the rest of the world, accelerating the pace of automation and strengthening its production dominance even amid a decline in the working-age population - WSJ.

Deliveries of industrial robots to China in 2021 increased by 45% compared to the previous year and amounted to more than 243,000 units.

Nearly twice as many new robots have been installed in China as in factories in America and Europe, according to IFR.

Sales of industrial robots in the world updated the record

According to robotics the International Federation (IFR), which were released in June 2022, sales of industrial robots on a global scale at the end of 2021 were record, which is largely facilitated by the high demand of enterprises for automation technologies. Worldwide, 486,800 industrial robots were delivered in 2021, up 27% from 2020. The largest increase in demand was observed in/ Asia: Australia deliveries increased by 33% and reached 354,500 units. Demand Northern South America in and grew by 27% to 49,400 units. To Europe In, there was a double-digit increase of 15% - 78,000 units were installed.

The number of robot sales around the world has increased significantly, and 2021 was the most successful year for the robotics industry, says Milton Gerry, president of IFR. - Due to the continuing trend towards automation and constant technological innovation, demand has reached a high level in all industries. In 2021, even the pre-pandemic record was exceeded - 422,000 installations per year in 2018.

Sales of industrial robots in the world updated the record

In 2021, the main factor in demand growth was the electronic industry (132,000 units, + 21%), which already in 2020 surpassed the automotive industry (109,000 installations, + 37%) as the largest consumer of industrial robots. It is followed by metallurgy and mechanical engineering (57,000 units, + 38%), ahead of the production of plastics and chemical products (22,500 units, + 21%) and the production of food and drinks (15,300 units, + 24%).

In 2021, the number of industrial robot installations in Europe recovered after two years of decline, exceeding the maximum of 75,600 units in 2018. Demand from the most important consumer, the automotive industry, remained strong but was moving laterally (19,300 units, +/-0%). Demand from metallurgy and mechanical engineering increased strongly (15,500 units, + 50%), followed by the plastic and chemical industries (7,700 units, + 30%).

In the Americas, the number of units of industrial robots sold reached the second-highest total ever, surpassing a record 2018 (55,200 units). 33,800 units of equipment were delivered to the largest American market, the United States, which accounts for 68% of the market share of these continents.

Sales of industrial robots in the world updated the record

Asia remains the world's largest industrial robot market, with 73% of all robots purchased in 2021 installed in Asia. A total of 354,500 units were delivered in 2021, up 33% from 2020. Most robots were delivered to the electronics industry (123,800 units, + 22%), followed by the automotive industry (72,600 units, + 57%) and metallurgy and mechanical engineering (36,400 units, + 29%).

The growth in production and the number of purchases of new industrial robots is spurred by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the recovery in the global economy after it hit, and the plans of the EU and the United States to launch their own production of electronic components amid problems with relations with the PRC.

In the same direction, the wind "blows" what is called the process of reshoring. The market for ultra-cheap labor in the PRC in particular, and East and Southeast Asia as a whole, is a thing of the past. But industrial robots are becoming more perfect and more accessible to enterprises. If at the end of the twentieth century it was extremely profitable for corporations to bring assembly to Asia and close factories in the United States and Europe with their high salaries for workers, then by 2021 it becomes profitable to deploy robotic production in the most developed and wealthy countries, closer to consumers. US trade and political friction with China amid the growing threat of wars around Taiwan, the South China Sea, the Sino-Indian border, this process only spurs.^[14]

Google has created a software company for industrial robots

At the end of July 2021, Alphabet created a new subsidiary for the development of software for industrial robots. The new structure was called Intrinsic (formerly GitStar). The company is created on the basis of the existing Intrinsic project, which worked as part of the X Development breakthrough ideas and technologies division. Read more here.

Announcement of a robot for the inspection of energy and processing enterprises

At the end of April 2021, the Swiss company ANYbotics demonstrated a new industrial robot - ANYmal D. It can be used for inspections of industrial and energy companies. Read more here.

Announcement of a construction robot climbing stairs

In April 2021, the Austrian company Printstones introduced, construction robot Baubot which has a modular design software and open source to expand the capabilities of the technology. More. here

2020: Lenovo unveils Morningstar industrial robot for paint work

On October 28, 2020, Lenovo unveiled its first proprietary industrial robot, called Morningstar. The novelty, according to the developers, uses the latest computing power and artificial intelligence, allowing workers to accurately perform painting work remotely using a robot. Read more here.

2019

12% increase in industrial robots, falling sales

By the end of 2019, a record 2.7 million industrial robots were used at enterprises around the world, which is 12% more than a year earlier. This is evidenced by data from the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR).

At the same time, sales of new industrial robots in 2019 decreased - by 12% compared to 2018 and amounted to 373 thousand units, which is the third largest indicator in the history of the market under consideration.

Most industrial robots are used in Asian countries. So, in China, the total number of robots increased in 2019 by 21% and amounted to about 783 thousand units. In Europe, Germany (221.5 thousand) became the leader in the use of robots in industry. During the year, 20,500 manipulators were installed there, which corresponds to the number of installed robots in 2014-16 and 23% below the level of 2018. In total, there are about 580 thousand industrial robots in Europe, which is 7% higher than in 2018.

Density of use of industrial robots

In the US, robot sales fell 17%, but the total increased by 7%. By the end of 2019, there were 293.2 thousand industrial robots in the country.

IFR notes an acceleration in the pace of industrial automation in many countries. If in 2016 there were 74 industrial robots per 10 thousand employees of the production sector worldwide, then by 2020 their number increased to 113. The largest density of machines is in Asia, 118 units per 10 thousand workers, in Europe - 114, in America - 103.

Singapore is the leader in introducing robots into industry. By the end of 2019, 918 cars were installed in this country for 10 thousand employees. In second place is South Korea with an indicator of 855 robots per 10 thousand workers.

The largest markets for industrial robots

Japan closed the leading three. Despite the fact that it accounts for more than half of the world supply of robotics, the density of robots is 364 per 10 thousand workers. The fourth place in enterprise automation is occupied by Germany (346 robots), followed by Sweden (277), the USA (228), Italy (212), Belgium (211), Luxembourg (211) and Spain (191).

In China, 187 robots were registered per 10 thousand workers in 2019. Back in 2013, the density of robots in China was 25 units and by 2017 had grown to 97. China is also among the world's top five exporters of industrial robots, ranking second behind Japan (followed by the United States, South Korea and Germany). Approximately 71% of new industrial robots in China were supplied by foreign manufacturers at the end of 2019.

Sales figures for cobots and traditional industrial bots in 2019

The largest markets for new industrial robots in 2019 were China (140.5 thousand devices sold, -9% by 2018), Japan (49.9 thousand units, -10%) and the United States (33.3 thousand units, -17%). IFR Analysts Especially Note India, Which Has Doubled The Number Of Industrial Robots Operated At Country's Facilities Within 5 Years

Experts called the automotive industry the main field of application of industrial robots (33.9% of all systems operated in the world). Metallurgy and other machine-building industries, according to IFR estimates, account for 10.3% of robots. The main technological operations are robotic manipulators (44.6%), welding (23.5%) and product assembly (10.5%).

One of the main trends in 2019 in IFR is called an 11% increase in demand for cobots - robots that can work in the same space as humans and do not require fencing of the production site. In 2019, sales of traditional industrial robots and cobots amounted to 355 and 18 thousand units, respectively, against 406 and 16 thousand a year earlier. ^[15]

Companies in the United States have begun to introduce fewer robots

In mid-February 2020, it became known that in 2019, American companies installed fewer robots than a year earlier. This reduction is noted for the first time since 2015 and is associated with a decline in production against the background of trade wars and lower demand.

Shipments of manufacturing robots USA in fell more than 16%, according to the Association for Development Assistance. In 2019, deliveries also fell in, down To Mexico 25%, while deliveries in were To Canada virtually unchanged.

US manufacturing robot shipments fall more than 16%

President Donald Trump's main goal was to encourage manufacturers to bring back U.S. jobs, presumably through automation and robotics that would allow domestic factories to compete with cheaper labor in China and elsewhere. But that endeavor failed because of a slowdown in production.

Alexander Shikany, vice president of the Automation Promotion Association, said the downturn is likely to be short-lived. According to Shikani, the idea of ​ ​ the growth of automation in the coming months is mainly given by orders for new robots, and this figure increased by 1.6% at the end of 2019. This growth is mainly due to orders from automakers, which, according to Chicani, decided to put on robotics in the next wave of innovation.

There are also companies that have not reduced the installation of robots in 2019. Among them is Hytrol Convoy Co Inc, a privately held Arkansas-based company that makes conveyor belts and had sales of more than $200 million last year. Thanks to growing demand from e-commerce enterprises, the company spent $1.9 million to automate its assembly line. At the same time, investments did not reduce jobs. The headcount at the Hytrol Conveyor plant has increased by 18% over the past three years. Revenues, meanwhile, rose by nearly a quarter.^[16]

2018

World record sales - IFR

According to the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), the global industrial robot market in 2018 reached a record 422 thousand units in the amount of $16.5 billion, which is 6% more than a year ago. These figures were presented on September 20, 2019.

Asia retained the first place in sales of industrial robots, although countries in the region showed diverse dynamics. For example, in China and South Korea, the number of new projects has decreased, and in Japan it has grown. The entire Asian market added 1%.

Countries with the highest robot density, IFR data

In Europe, a 14% increase was registered. Positive dynamics was observed for the sixth year in a row. The European industrial robot market remained the second largest in the world.

The sale of industrial robots in the Americas at the end of 2018 jumped by 20%, which is a record result in six years.

According to the IFR forecast, global supplies of industrial robots will decrease slightly in 2019, but then there will be an increase - by about 12% annually until 2022.

It follows from the report that in 2018 there were approximately 99 industrial robots for 10 thousand employees of enterprises in the world. Among the regions, the highest indicator was recorded in To Europe- 114. In the states of the Americas, the density of the use of robots in factories was measured 99 per 10 thousand workers, in/ Asia-Australia 91.

The fastest share of robots between 2013 and 2018 grew in Asian countries - by about 16% per year. In Europe, the annual dynamics was + 6%, in the Americas - + 6%.

Almost two-thirds of industrial robot sales are (and will continue to be in the medium term) in the auto industry and electronics production. Among other promising areas of application of robots, researchers call metalworking, agriculture, the nuclear industry, ship and aircraft construction, and mining.

Forecast for the supply of industrial robots, IFR data

A number of factors contribute to the growing spread of autonomous machinery: a decrease in the cost of solutions due to the rapid development of technologies, an increase in investment in related developments (expresses a desire to reduce the cost and generally optimize production, reducing the impact of the human factor), as well as a clear course taken by the PRC government on large-scale modernization of its industry. Rightfully called the "world workshop," China greatly affects the overall dynamics of industrial production in the world - and therefore the changes in the industrial sectors of the economy of this individual country are directly and archically reflected in the global state of the respective markets.

Experts expected the electronics market to become the largest consumer of industrial robots in the world, ahead of the auto industry. However, in 2018, demand for electronic devices and components decreased largely due to the worsening trade situation caused by the escalation of the conflict between the United States and China.

In 2018, enterprises operating in the field of electronics installed a total of 105 thousand industrial robots, which is 14% less than a year ago. 2017 was a record year for the industry.

The metalworking and machine-building industries are named the third largest industry selling robots. In 2018, it accounted for 10% of total market demand.

China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Germany accounted for 74% of global shipments of industrial robots in 2018. The share of the PRC amounted to 36% or 154 thousand units. Although this is less than in 2017, more systems are sold in the Chinese market than in Europe, the Americas combined.

Cobot Delivery Data, IFR Data

Japan retains its status as a leader in the production of industrial robots. In 2018, 52% of the world's total products were produced in the country.

The ongoing push to automate production has seen the number of robots rolled out in the US rise for the eighth consecutive time in 2018 to reach a record 40,300. This is 22% more than in 2017, and the United States took third place in the world, taking it from South Korea.

Judging by the study, Russia is lagging behind in the production and introduction of industrial robots. As Vedomosti writes with reference to Pavel Krivozubov, head of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence department of the Skolkovo Foundation, in Russia the production of robots is developing more slowly than abroad, because this direction has sagged since the collapse of the USSR and began to recover only in recent years, and in the meantime, Western competitors developed their own solutions. In addition, labor in the country is cheaper than in Singapore or the United States, which stops industrialists from widespread adoption of robots, he added.

Earlier in 2019, Innopolis University announced that Russia could catch up with the world level of robotics development if 132.6 billion rubles were allocated for this. The organization came to this conclusion as part of the work on the Digital Economy national project.

The report of the International Federation of Robotics for the first time took into account the supply of the so-called joint robots (cobots), which perform tasks on the same site with people. In 2018, about 14 thousand such devices were shipped around the world against 11.1 thousand a year earlier. The number of installed cobots for the year increased by 23%.^[17]

The volume of the global market for industrial robots amounted to $16.5 billion in monetary terms

On April 16, 2020, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, together with the National Association of Robotics Market Participants (NAURR), prepared a study on promising directions for the use of robotics in business. Particular attention was paid to the use of robotics in areas such as manufacturing and mining, agriculture, logistics, service provision, cleaning and others.

So, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the global market for industrial robots in 2018 amounted to 422 thousand units. or $16.5 billion in monetary terms. The industrial robotics market grew by 6% in 2017-2018. The most popular type of robots are robotic manipulators. The most popular operations for automation are welding, soldering, cutting, loading and unloading operations.

Global sales of industrial robots and their growth forecast (thousand units)

The Russian industrial robotics market in 2018 grew by 42% compared to the previous year. In 2018, 1,007 robots were installed at industrial enterprises (in 2017 - 713 robots). In terms of the number of robots sold per year, Russia ranked 27th in the world. The market volume of industrial robots in Russia amounted to 3 billion rubles. The volume of the robotic solutions market amounted to 9.1 billion rubles. In addition to robots, the robotic solutions market also includes related equipment, software, design, engineering, commissioning, etc. In total, about 5,000 robots were used at Russian enterprises in 2019. Read more here.

China accounts for 30% of global sales of industrial robots

Approximately 30% of the sales of industrial robots in the world fell on the Chinese market at the end of 2018. Such data are provided by the International robotics Federation of Robotics in July 2019.

Judging by the schedule presented by the Beijing research company Marketing Intelligence Resource, in 2018, the supply of industrial robots in the Celestial Empire amounted to about 190 thousand units, which is twice as much as two years earlier.

China Industrial Robot Deliveries, Marketing Intelligence Resource Estimate and Forecast

Total investments in the development of "smart" production in the PRC in 2018 reached 69.6 billion yuan (about $10.1 billion), which is 46% higher than a year ago. The number of state-subsidized investment deals remained unchanged at 100, while the number of unsubsidized transactions doubled to 1,000.

Robotics is seen by the Chinese government as a key element of a strategy called Made in China 2025, under which the country seeks to become fully self-sufficient in technology and maintain the competitiveness of its industries in the international arena. According to this plan, the share of industrial robots produced domestically should rise to 70% by 2025 against 30% in 2017.

China There has long been a great demand for industrial robots. Back in 2013, the country was ahead of Japan and became the world's largest market for such equipment. By the end of 2018, 10,000 workers in China accounted for a third more robots than in. Japan Moreover, experts are confident that this gap will increase, despite investment problems that arose amid the aggravation of the trade conflict with. USA

Nikkei has listed the main manufacturers of industrial robots in China:

• Adtech Shenzhen Technology;
• Efort Intelligent Equipment;
• Nanjing Estun Automation;
• Shenzhen Inovance Technology;
• Siasun.^[18]

Preliminary IFR data: Sales volume - 421 thousand industrial robots

Although the final data ones for 2018 have not yet been presented, according to preliminary information received Sberbank from the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), the growth in sales of robots in 2018 ranged from 1% to 10% compared to 2017. Thus, the estimate of the number of industrial robots sold in 2018 is up to 421,000. More. here

During the year, 860 industrial robots were introduced in Russia. Total in the world - 384 thousand

According National Association of Robotics Market Participants (NAURR) Russia robots to a report submitted on April 24, 2019, 860 were installed in 2018, up 21% from 2017. For comparison, in the China same period 133,200 industrial robots were introduced, in - 52,400 Japan.

The number of introduced industrial robots has increased in Russia

In Russia, the ratio of the number of robots per 10,000 workers was 4 robots, with a global average of 106 robots for Europe, 91 for America and 75 for Asia.

In terms of robotization, the auto industry is in the lead: 378 robots are employed at auto concern enterprises in Russia (an increase of 44% compared to 2017). 602 robots work in other industries, of which 19% are involved in the metallurgical industry.

The total volume of the industrial robot market in Russia NAURR is estimated at 2.5 billion rubles, the robotic systems market - at 7.5 billion rubles.

As for world statistics on robotization, it was voiced by Andreas Bauer, vice president of corporate marketing at KUKA and concurrently chairman of the Committee of Robot Suppliers of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). He presented the annual official data of the federation's report on the state of the industrial robotics market worldwide.

So, according to the report, in 2018, more than 384,000 industrial robots were installed at production facilities around the world, which is 1% more than in 2017, and this is a new record for robotization of production. The 5 largest industrial robotics markets (China, Japan, USA, South Korea, Germany) account for 15% of the global number of installed robots.

The automotive industry remains the leading industry in the global robotics market, with about 116,000 robots installed at enterprises in 2018 (which is 6% less than in 2017). In second place is the production of electronics: the number of robots installed in 2018 increased by 8% to about 113,000 robots. Both of these industries have taken over almost 60% of industrial robotization around the world. Metallurgy and mechanical engineering are gradually increasing the number of robots, in 2018 48,000 were installed.

Countries with the greatest penetration of industrial robots

In early April 2019, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) published a study on the level of penetration of industrial robots in different countries.

The first place in the ranking was taken by South Korea, in which there are 710 robots per 10 thousand workers. The top three included Singapore (658 robots) and Germany (322). Russia is not on this list.

Countries with the greatest penetration of industrial robots - their number to 10 thousand workers, IFR data

Experts pay attention to the seventh place in the United States, where there are 200 robots per 10 thousand employees of factories and enterprises. That's double the number in China.

In 2018, a record number of robots were sold on the American market - almost 38 thousand units. This was largely facilitated by companies engaged in the food and chemical industries (including plastic processing), which increased robotics costs by 64% and 30%, respectively.

Most robots in the United States are involved in the production of cars - in 2017 there were 1,200 of them in relation to 10 thousand workers against 790 in 2012. However, automakers are reducing purchases of robots: in 2016, a record 16,311 units were purchased, in 2017 - 15,400 , in 2018 - 14,600 . Sales are down about 7% a year, but the auto industry accounted for 38% of all industrial robots in the United States in 2018.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, total employment in the automotive industry increased by 22% - from 824,400 jobs in 2013 to 1,005,000 in 2018. This data shows that despite the automation of the production of cars and their components, there is no unemployment problem in this sector.

The second most purchased robots in the United States was the electronics industry with an 18 percent share in the total number of equipment used. Electronics manufacturers are increasing their adoption of robots by about 15% per year.^[19]

Robot nearly killed worker by impaling him with 10 steel pins

On December 11, 2018, it became known about an accident that occurred with a 49-year-old Chinese man named Zhou. 10 steel pins plunged into it as a result of the fall of the manipulator, which flew off the industrial robot. Fortunately, the worker was saved despite the severe damage.

The incident occurred on December 4, 2018 at a porcelain factory in the city of Zhuzhou (Hunan province in southeastern China) during a night shift. From the fallen part of the robot, spikes 30 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter flew out, which stuck in Zhou's back, shoulder and arm. Some of them passed through, and one metal pin stopped only 1 mm from an important nerve node in the thoracic region - in the area between the collarbone and the first rib. Still, a little and the victim could begin a severe hemorrhage, which would greatly reduce the chances of survival.

Operation to remove 10 metal pins was successful

With serious injuries, the man was taken to a local hospital, from where he was sent to a clinic in the provincial capital. Because of the pins, he could not lie on his back or on his stomach. His wounds were handled by more than ten nurses and doctors from various departments. In the early morning, the worker was operated on and successfully removed all the pins, according to the Daily Mail, citing People's Daily Online.

Surgeon Wu Panfeng, who operated on Zhou, said that due to the long length of the metal pins, the patient could not undergo an X-ray scan. After the operation, which was successful, the man's condition stabilized. Nothing threatens his life.^[20]

In August 2018, it was reported that a worker in China survived after his head was pierced by a three-meter metal bar. The victim was operated on, the rod entered the brain by 20 cm was removed and the skull was restored.

By 2020, 3 million robots worldwide will be involved in industry

On April 25, 2018, Sberbank published an analytical review of the global robotics market prepared by the Sberbank Robotics Laboratory. According to the review, the growth rate of the industrial robotics market outpaces the growth rate of global GDP: between 2011 and 2016, the average annual growth of industrial robots sales was 12%. Calculated by IFR (International Federation of Robotics), 294 thousand industrial robots were sold in 2016, which is 16% more than in 2015, and the total market volume reached $13.1 billion (taking into account software, peripherals and integration services, the market exceeds $40 billion).

Meanwhile, the service robotics market is growing even faster. So, in 2015, 48 thousand professional service robots were sold, and in 2016 this number increased by 24% to 59 thousand. The total market volume of professional service robots reached $4.7 billion.

The total number of personal service robots sold in 2016 increased by 24%, reaching about 6.7 million units, and the total market volume increased to $2.6 billion. For example, there are already more than 20 million robotic vacuum cleaners in the world, which are rapidly becoming cheaper due to increased competition, Sberbank noted.

Industrial robotics is growing at an average of 15% per year due to the rapid robotization of the Chinese economy and, while the growth of service robotics has deeper reasons: most of the global economy is a service economy. That is why service robotics shows more significant growth (at the level of 25% per year) with relatively lower numbers in absolute terms compared to industrial, the review says.

According to Sberbank, the situation with robotics in Russia is a complete reflection of the trend described above. Despite the fact that Russia is in the penultimate place in the world in terms of robotization density in industry, our country, in accordance with IFR statistics, is among the top 20 countries producing service robotics. This means that in this area our country has good potential for growth. The ratio of industrial and service robotics in Russia is 1 to 10.

The density of robotization is considered as the number of industrial robots per 10 thousand workers employed in industry. The total drop in industrial production in Russia compared to the USSR led to the fact that in Russia there is a low density of robotization.

91% of all industrial robots in 2016 were installed in the manufacturing sector. The average annual sales growth rate across all manufacturing industries in 2011-2016 was 13%; for the automotive industry - 12%, and for the electronics industry - 19%.

As for service robots, they are most sold in absolute terms for logistics (~ 25 thousand units), military use (~ 11 thousand), for commercial spaces (~ 7 thousand), field work and exoskeletons (~ 6 thousand each).

For personal use in 2016, 6.7 million robots were bought in the world in the amount of $2.6 billion, 4.6 million of them are robots for home tasks (mainly vacuum cleaners) and for entertainment - 2.1 million (mainly toys).

74% of global sales of industrial robots are in five countries: China (30%), the Republic of Korea (14%), Japan (13%), the USA (11%) and Germany (7%). In Russia, 358 industrial robots were sold in 2016.

According to IFR estimates, the global operational fleet of industrial robots will grow from approximately 1,828 thousand units at the end of 2016 to 3,053 thousand units by the end of 2020, which corresponds to a CAGR of 14% in 2018-2020.

Experts of the Sberbank Laboratory consider the following areas that will form the basis of the industrial and service robotics market by 2020:

• unmanned passenger transport
• robots for commercial spaces;
• robotic interlocutors (assistants);
• logistics robots and unmanned cargo transport;
• collaborative robots;
• industrial exoskeletons;
• robots for agriculture.
• robots for customer service;
• industrial exoskeletons;
• robots for home tasks (personal assistants).

Of the 13 most notable manufacturers of industrial robots on the international market, eight - FANUC, Yaskawa, Kawasaki, Nachi, Denso, Mitsubishi, Epson and Omron - are Japanese. The other five companies are from the European Union: ABB, Stäubli, Kuka, Comau, Universal Robots.

The main player in the service robotics market is the United States: a total of 49% of service robots are produced in America. Asia lags significantly behind - only 30%, in Europe - 21%. However, Asian manufacturers have already outstripped Europeans in the field of personal robotics, Sberbank noted. Despite an unqualified lead in the number of service robots sold, the US is behind Europe in the number of manufacturers. Thus, in 2016, the European region was in the lead in terms of the number of manufacturing companies (44%), North America (35%) and Asia (21%) lagged behind significantly.

According to the estimates of the Sberbank Laboratory, about 80 companies leading developments in the field of robotics are actively operating in Russia. Some of them are already successfully exporting their products. But so far the Russian industrial robotics market is small - its volume amounted to less than 10 billion rubles. in 2016.

2017

Sales of industrial robots exceeded 380 thousand units

In 2017, about 380.6 thousand industrial robots were sold worldwide, robots which is 29.3% more than the result for the previous year in 294.3 thousand robots. Such data, citing the World Robotics Report 2018, prepared by the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), are published by DigiTimes and Industrial Automation Asia.

Industrial Robots Market Change Dynamics

The total market volume of industrial robots in 2017 amounted to $16.7 billion excluding the cost of software. Taking into account the software, the market estimate is even higher and amounts to more than $48 billion. Read more here.

According to IFR estimates, almost a third of the total, or rather 125.4 thousand of the industrial robots sold last year, were acquired by automakers. Compared to 2016, the auto industry increased purchases of robotics by 21%. While global sales of the machines are slowing, car companies continue to robotize production. The trend is especially pronounced in China and among manufacturers of electric vehicles, the study notes.^[21]

In addition, sales of robots to metallurgical, electronic and food industries increased significantly - in these industries, the increase was 54%, 27% and 19%, respectively.

From the IFR report, it follows that the three largest buyers of industrial robots were included, and China South Korea : Japan according to IFR estimates, in 2017 these countries installed 138, 40 and 39 thousand units of robotic equipment. In addition, the PRC showed the highest growth rates - by 58% compared to 2016.^[22]

The United States is in fourth place with a result of 33 thousand industrial robots. This is followed by Germany (22 thousand) and Taiwan (11 thousand).

The largest regional market was Asia and Australia, where manufacturers acquired 255,000 industrial robots (+ 34%). 67 thousand units of robotics were purchased by Europe (+ 20%) and 50 thousand - by North and Latin America (+ 22%).

China is rapidly increasing the production of industrial robots

China The production of industrial robots is growing at a rapid pace. In early December 2017, the Ministry of Industry information technology and Information Technology reported that more than 100,000 robots had been released in the country as of the end of October 2017.

Compared to 2016, the supply of industrial robots increased by 67%. The PRC government expects that by the end of 2017, shipments of industrial robotic systems will reach 120 thousand units.

Manufacturing of industrial robots in China, data from Bloomberg, Xinhua, International Federation of Robotics, IFR

In 2016, China produced about 90 thousand industrial robots, more than South Korea North America combined, Bloomberg reports, citing data from the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR).

Chinese news agency Xinhua also notes that China is the world's largest market for industrial robots, accounting for about a third of the global sales of such systems.^[23]

It is expected that in 2017 the turnover in the Chinese industrial robot market will grow to $4.2 billion, and by 2020 the figure will reach $5.9 billion.

Robotics is included in the list of key areas of development of the state program Made in China 2025, the purpose of which is to modernize the country's production sector.

In 2015, foreign manufacturers accounted for about two-thirds of China's robots, according to IFR estimates. By the end of 2017, the ratio was significantly reduced thanks to the efforts of Chinese companies such as Midea Group and Siasun Robot & Automation to strengthen their position in the robotics industry.

In 2016, Midea acquired the world's leading robotics developer, the German company Kuka AG, and in October 2017, the largest Chinese robot manufacturer Siasun opened a new industrial park worth $300 million in Shenyang near its headquarters.^[24]

Suppliers' shares rise in price

Automation continues to gain momentum in the world, with an army of robots taking over more factories, factories and storage facilities around the world. The trend affected not only developed, but also developing economies. However, the former, of course, are leading in the purchase of industrial robots. This was reported on November 20, 2017 by The Financial Times.

The use of robots in shoe production

Advanced machines capable of not only welding car bodies and lifting weights, but also performing more complex and delicate operations - from making electronic components to laying chocolates - are increasingly in demand in the world. In parallel with demand, stock quotes of leading industry representatives are growing, including the Japanese companies Fanuc and Yaskawa, the Swiss concern ABB and the German Kuka. According to the publication, Yaskawa and Kuka shares more than doubled in 2017, and the value of Fanuc and ABB securities has increased by 40% and almost 16% since the beginning of the year, respectively.

Kuku robot demonstrates movement accuracy by pouring beer into a glass

Appearance of cobots with AI elements

A characteristic trend is the expansion of the range of robots, among which machines with elements of artificial intelligence have now appeared, capable of working side by side with humans. These are so-called collaborative robots, or cobots, specially designed to interact with humans. Among the advantages of such machines is the ability to learn by imitation.

Cobots don't need programmers. Anyone can teach them, because they are very easy to use. You just need to click on the record and do the necessary actions, and then repeat them several times. After that, the machine will reproduce movements offline, "says Jonathan Cohen, an employee of the RoboCap UCITS investment fund specializing in robotics.

In addition, compared to traditional robots, cobots have less weight, they are more compact and mobile, as well as cheap, which is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses.

The robotics market has been growing steadily over the past four to five years, and we are optimistic that this situation will continue for the next three years, "Per Vegard Nerseth, Managing Director of ABB Robotics, told the publication.

However, the proliferation of robots has raised fears that over time, machines will take away work from humans. In September 2017, Deutsche Bank analyst John Cryan said that robots are already pushing people out of jobs, and that the trend will intensify in the future.

The company also heats up the alarm consulting : McKinsey according to its estimates, in the future, from 30% to 60% of operations performed by people can be automated.

However, the head of ABB Robotics does not share such fears. In his opinion, the shortage of employees to carry out qualified manual work is partly to blame for the growth in demand for robots. Often companies automate too tedious, dirty or dangerous operations that people simply do not want to perform.

Many companies are experiencing difficulties due to the fact that they cannot find enough employees in places where manual labor is required... Now I don't see robots actually taking away people's jobs. I would say they help companies become more competitive and efficient, "said Per Fegard Nerzet.[25]

IOActive: Almost any industrial robot can attack a person

Industrial robots have a large number of vulnerabilities, up to those that allow them to be put under remote control. These are the findings of a study conducted by IOActive, whose experts studied software components for robots from six major CNews manufacturers^[26].

The researchers did not work directly with the robots themselves, but they carefully studied the software components, including shells and mobile applications. The results were very disappointing.

The subject of the study was the development of SoftBank Robotics (NAO and Pepper robots), Ubtech Robotics (Alpha 1S and Alpha 2), Robotis (Robotis OP2 and Thormang3), Universal Robots (UR3, UR5 and UR10), Rethink Robotics (Baxter and Sawyer), as well as the Asratec Corp v-Sido robot management system.

In total, the researchers identified almost 50 software vulnerabilities related to a wide variety of aspects of working with these machines: problems were found with communications, authorization of itself and its mechanisms, encryption, storage of users' personal data, pre-installed settings and open source components.

It turned out, in particular, that the vulnerabilities provide attackers with at least a hypothetical opportunity to use cameras and microphones of robots for espionage, while other bugs allow them to seize control of the device and use it to cause physical damage.

2016

The introduction of robots in factories in Eastern Europe

In February 2018, Reuters published an article on how robots are being introduced in Eastern Europe to improve production and compensate for personnel shortages.

Eastern European countries faced labor shortages. This situation developed slowly, but surely - the beginning of it was laid by the financial crisis of 2008, and in 2011 the last restrictions of legislation were lifted, which restrained the outflow of labor to richer countries of the European Union. While politicians and economists in many countries around the world are sounding the alarm about the negative impact of robotization of manufacturing taking people out of jobs, it is automation that has been a rescue for local businesses trying to keep their place in the market.

Companies in Eastern Europe are investing more and more in automation to deal with personnel shortages. The pace of robotization of production increased by almost a third - in 2017 alone, 9,900 units of robotics were installed at enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe, that is, 28% more than in 2016. But this is still not enough to fill all the empty jobs. By 2020, robotics supplies to the region will grow by another 21%, although the average growth rate in Europe is only 10%, according to a report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which tracks the main trends in robotization around the world.

Robots are being introduced in Eastern Europe to improve production and compensate for personnel shortages

The primary reason for the labor shortage in Eastern Europe was a drop in fertility and migration outflow. Eastern European populations are slowly aging, demographic analyses show. According to UN forecasts, by 2050 the total population of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary will decrease by 8 million and reach 56 million people. All these changes led to a change in the labor model of the former communist states. At first, companies tried to raise wages for workers, but this was not enough to convince young people to stay in the country.

Hungary suffered the most from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Owners of enterprises cannot pick up employees for production, and the large turnover of personnel only aggravates the situation. Under these conditions, forced automation becomes the only reasonable behavior strategy for enterprises.

The Hungarian manufacturer of tension belts Hirtenberger Automotive Safety spent €2.5 million on the installation of robotics in two production units. The most profitable situation was for robotics manufacturers. Vesz-Mont 2000's revenue grew 10% in 2017. In 2018, the company expects to double the sales of robotics. The company could produce and earn more, but paradoxically, it also lacks workers.

The most automated country in Eastern Europe is Slovakia. There are 135 robots per 100,000 workers here. In the Czech Republic - 101, in Hungary - 57, and in Poland - only 32, which is associated with the influx of Ukrainian migrant workers. However, automation of production requires new skills from employees, and companies in Eastern Europe have already faced the problem of personnel formation. Some manufacturers are already launching graduate training programs.

Economists warn that labor shortages could have negative consequences for some Eastern European countries, which will manifest themselves before the end of 2020. Analysts UniCredit note that although the gradual shortage of personnel in the labor market has developed over at least the last three years, it is 2018 that could be the turning point when labor shortages begin to directly affect the economic growth rates of these countries. It will be more profitable for some companies to move production to other countries. Although they are not protected. Gradually, the problem will spread to Western Europe. Already, the Netherlands also complain Germany about the shortage of workers, and, France Great Britain reports Reuters.

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World fleet of industrial robots - 1.8 million units

Data from Sberbank Robotics Laboratory

• The growth rate of the industrial robotics market is ahead of the growth rate of global GDP: between 2011 and 2016, the average annual growth in sales of industrial robots was 12%. In 2016, 294 thousand industrial robots were sold, and the total market volume reached $13.1 billion (taking into account software and integration services, the market exceeds $40 billion).

• The total mirovoy̆ fleet of operated industrial robots at the end of 2016 increased to 1,828 thousand units. According to IFR estimates, the global operational fleet of industrial robots will grow from approximately 1,828 thousand units at the end of 2016 to 3,053 thousand units at the end of 2020, which corresponds to a CAGR of 14% in 2018-2020.

• 91% of all industrial robots in 2016 were installed in the manufacturing sector.

• The average annual sales growth rate across all manufacturing industries in 2011-2016 was 13%; for the automotive industry - 12%, and for the elektronnoy̆ industry - 19%.

• 74% of global sales of industrial robots are in five countries: China (30%), the Republic of Korea (14%), Japan (13%), the USA (11%) and Germany (7%). In 2016, 358 industrial robots were sold in Russia.

• Of the 13 most notable manufacturers of industrial robots on the international market, eight are FANUC, Yaskawa (Yaskawa Europa Holding AB), Kawasaki, Nachi, Denso, Mitsubishi, Epson and Omron - Japanese. The other five companies are from the European Union: ABB, Stäubli, Kuka, Comau, Universal Robots.

• The Russian industrial robotics market is small (less than 10 billion rubles in 2016). There are less than 10 domestic manufacturers, but even they do not have industrial robots as the main business, which is why they lose to foreign competitors both as the product itself and in the convenience of the service.

300 thousand industrial robots sold for $13.1 billion (+ 18 %)

According to the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), in 2016, global revenue from the sale of industrial robots increased by 18% and reached a record volume of $13.1 billion. In total, almost 300 thousand such machines were sold in the world, of which three quarters were purchased by five countries China-,,, and South Korea. Japan USA Germany

Annual deliveries of industrial robots (thousand units), broken down by region. International Federation of Robotics (IFR)

Markets and Markets Forecast

According to the forecast of the research company Markets and Markets, by 2023 the volume of the industrial robot market will grow to $71 billion from $38 billion in 2016.

Data from Boston Consulting Group

No large modern production is complete without the help of industrial robots, which are widely used for welding processes, moving products, processing, painting, assembly, etc. The total number of industrial robots in the world already exceeds 1.3 million units. According to the forecast of the Boston Consulting Group, by 2025 the share of tasks solved using robots will reach 26%.

The Russian share in the world consumption of robots at the moment is less than 1%, and the density of robotization is 2 robots per 10 thousand workers. This is due, among other things, to the fact that technological processes in domestic industries are outdated and need to be modernized. Among the main problems: a lack of knowledge about the possibilities of robotization, the difficulty of docking and coordinating the components of the robotic complex, the need for each robot to program separately, a lack of software for design, a weak educational infrastructure, etc.

2014: The automotive industry is the main consumer of robots

The leading industry in the use of robots in 2014 was the automotive industry.

Which industries use industrial robots

2010:60 thousand robots sold for $5 billion, 70% in the automotive industry

The global production of industrial robots was expressed in about 60 thousand units (about $5 billion), 70% of which were acquired by enterprises of the global automotive industry.

According to Vladimir Serebrenny, Director of Production of Technological Equipment and Equipment (PTOO) at AvtoVAZ (April 2011), the Russian industry is in need of acquiring 300-400 robots per year, and about 200 of them are produced by PTOO for AvtoVAZ's own needs^[28]. The cost of one robot at the same time amounted to "from 2 to 3 million rubles," thus the volume of the domestic industrial robotics market Serebrenny estimates in the range from 600 million rubles. up to 1.2 billion rubles. ($20- $40 million) per year.

The world leaders in the production of industrial robotics are Japanese companies Fanuc and, Motoman Swedish and. ABB the German Kuka

The sales volumes of their only Russian competitor PTOO AvtoVAZ are limited to "dozens of sales on the Russian market."

Since 1984, says Serebrenny, PTOO produced equipment licensed by Kuka for the automobile plant, but in 2007 it mastered the production of its own models of technological robots for welding and transport work, as well as for applying mastic and sealants.

In the early 1980s, Vladimir Serebrenny notes, the USSR ranked third in the world in terms of the number of industrial robots produced after the United States and Japan. Now the prospects of his enterprise are to develop an agreement with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi concern affiliated with Avtovaz on the supply of assembly lines and robots developed by PTOO to enterprises of the French-Japanese alliance.

1961: The world's first industrial robot

The world's first industrial robot Ultimate began working at the General Motors (GM) plant. Programs for his hand weighing 1200 kg were stored on a magnetic drum.

Robotics