Robot density nearly doubled globally

[艹艹艹]

Robot density nearly doubled globally
14 DECEMBER 2021

The use of industrial robots in factories around the world is accelerating at a high rate: 126 robots per 10,000 employees is the new average of global robot density in the manufacturing industries – nearly double the number five years ago (2015: 66 units). This is according to the 2021 World Robot Statistics, issued by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

By regions, the average robot density in Asia/Australia is 134 units, in Europe 123 units and in the Americas 111 units. The top 5 most automated countries in the world are: South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Germany, and Sweden.

"Robot density is the barometer to track the degree of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world," says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics.

Asia

The development of robot density in China is the most dynamic worldwide: Due to the significant growth of robot installations, the density rate rose from 49 units in 2015 to 246 units in 2020. Today, China's robot density ranks 9th globally compared to 25th just five years ago.

Asia is also the home of the country with the world´s highest robot density in the manufacturing industry: the Republic of Korea has held this position since 2010. The country's robot density exceeds the global average seven-fold (932 units per 10,000 workers). Robot density had been increasing by 10% on average each year since 2015. With its globally recognized electronics industry and a distinct automotive industry, the Korean economy is based on the two largest areas for industrial robots.

Singapore takes second place with a rate of 605 robots per 10,000 employees in 2020. Singapore's robot density had been growing by 27% on average each year since 2015.

Japan ranked third in the world: In 2020, 390 robots were installed per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry. Japan is the world´s predominant industrial robot manufacturer: The production capacity of Japanese suppliers reached 174,000 units in 2020. Today, Japan´s manufacturers deliver 45% of the global robot supply.

North America

Robot density in the United States rose from 176 units in 2015 to 255 units in 2020. The country ranks seventh in the world – ahead of Chinese Taipei (248 units) and China (246 units). The modernization of domestic production facilities has boosted robot sales in the United States. The use of industrial robots also aids to achieve decarbonization targets e.g. in the cost-efficient production of solar panels and in the continued transition towards electric vehicles. Several car manufacturers have announced investments to further equip their factories for new electric drive car models or to increase capacity for battery production. These major projects will create demand for industrial robots in the next few years.

Europe

Europe´s most automated country is Germany - ranking 4th worldwide with 371 units. The annual supply had a share of 33% of total robot sales in Europe 2020 - 38% of Europe's operational stock is in Germany. The German robotics industry is recovering, mainly driven by strong overseas business rather than by the domestic or European market. Robot demand in Germany is expected to grow slowly, mainly supported by demand for low-cost robots in the general industries and outside traditional manufacturing.

France has a robot density of 194 units (ranking 16th in the world), which is well above the global average of 126 robots and relatively similar compared to other EU countries like Spain (203 units), Austria (205 units) or The Netherlands (209 units). EU members like Sweden (289 units), Denmark (246 units) or Italy (224 units), have a significantly higher degree of automation in the manufacturing segment.

As the only G7 country – the UK has a robot density below the world average of 126 units with 101 units, ranking 24th. Five years ago, the UK´s robot density was 71 units. The exodus of foreign labor after Brexit increased the demand for robots in 2020. This situation is expected to prevail in near future, the modernization of the UK manufacturing industry will also be boosted by massive tax incentives, the "super-deduction": From April 2021 until March 2023, companies can claim 130% of capital allowances as a tax relief for plant and machinery investments.

Source: International Federation of Robotics

 

[艹艹艹]

China aims to double its manufacturing robot density by 2025
2021-12-29 08:27:34

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a five-year plan released on Tuesday that the operating income of China's robotics industry is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 20 percent from 2021 to 2025.

China has been the world's largest market for industrial robots for eight consecutive years. In 2020, the manufacturing robot density, a metric used to measure a country's level of automation, reached 246 units per 10,000 people in China, nearly twice the global average.

Wang Weiming, an official with the ministry, said China aims to double its manufacturing robot density by 2025. High-end, advanced robots are expected to be used in more sectors such as the automobile, aerospace, railway transportation, logistics and mining industries.

More efforts will also be made to achieve breakthroughs in core robot components, such as speed reducers, servomotors and control panels, which are recognized as the three basic building blocks of sophisticated automated machines, Wang said.

"The goal is that by 2025, the performance and reliability of these homegrown key components can reach the level of advanced foreign products," Wang said.

From 2016 to 2020, China's robotics industry grew rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of about 15 percent. In 2020, the operating income of China's robotics sector exceeded 100 billion yuan ($15.7 billion) for the first time, data from the ministry show.

In the first 11 months of 2021, the cumulative output of industrial robots in China exceeded 330,000 units, marking year-on-year growth of 49 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Song Xiaogang, executive director and secretary-general of the China Robot Industry Alliance, said robots are important carriers of emerging technologies. As key equipment for modern industries, robots can lead an industry's digital development and upgrades of intelligent systems.

Meanwhile, service robots can also serve as assistants to an aging population and improve people's quality of life.

Thanks to technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, service robots can play a bigger role in elderly healthcare, Song said.

The International Federation of Robotics predicted that globally industrial robot installations are expected to rebound strongly and grow by 13 percent year-on-year to 435,000 units in 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, exceeding the record achieved in 2018.

Milton Guerry, president of the federation, said that industrial robot installations in Asia are expected to exceed 300,000 units this year, a 15 percent year-on-year increase.

The trend has been fueled by the positive market developments in China, the federation said.

Deng Xiaobai, co-founder and CEO of Dorabot, a Chinese AI-powered robotic solutions provider for logistics and other industries, said he is excited by the five-year plan.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has driven changes in the logistics industry, which includes the acceleration of innovation, automation and digitalization in the workplace," Deng said. "We are optimistic about future development."

 

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AI and robotics are becoming economic essentials