APRIL 10--In a recent report on robotics, the ARC Advisory Group (Dedham, MA, USA; www.arcweb.com) notes that the market for industrial robotics is being driven by investments in the automotive sector and strong growth among small and medium-sized businesses. High growth is also expected in developing nations that will employ industrial robots in traditional applications such as welding and material handling.
The worldwide market for industrial robotics is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% over the next five years. The hardware market was $3,590.5 million in 2005 and is forecasted to be more than $5,118 million in 2010.
Both application and simulation software are advancing rapidly and are facilitating adoption of robotic systems in sectors that have either limited resources or a less skilled workforce. The age of digital manufacturing is reducing the skill level required to apply robotics such that programming and factory planning are accessible to a broader user base.
The robotics market will continue to be driven by innovation. There is a growing need among end users to speed the flow of product through the factory and consume a minimum of factory floor space. To address this problem, new robotic configurations are emerging that lend themselves to greater workflow efficiency. The technology, known as coordinated cellular robotics (CCR), consists of conveyorless cells that employ robots capable of working cooperatively and simultaneously on a single work piece.
Expect developed countries that are traditionally thought of as large robotics consumers to grow the robotic installed base, but at a slower pace as the market becomes more saturated. In these regions, small- and medium-sized manufacturers will use robotic solutions to more efficiently customize products in smaller production lots. In countries where low labor rates may have prevailed over technology in years past, adoption is expected to increase at a higher rate.
Industrial robotic growth is expected in many industries outside that of the automotive segment.
To be successful, suppliers must understand the market and the challenges facing them including: Which industries and applications have the greatest growth potential? How critical is initial cost in relation to life cycle cost? What impact will the robotic systems component segment have on the market as a whole? Can industrial robots be reconfigured for service industry applications?
For more information or to purchase this report, contact ARC at www.arcweb.com/store/default.asp.