The North American
Robotics Market
First Half of 2015
Results
This report is based on data supplied to RIA by its member companies. The numbers represent the industrial robot units ordered and shipped, plus the dollar value added to the total robot system. RIA does not include numbers that other countries reporting to the International Federation of Robotics might include as robot units; e.g., RIA does not include four axis chip placement devices in standard electronic assembly machines.
Table of Contents
1. First Half of 2015 News Release
2. First Half of 2015 – Robot Applications —
New Orders
First Half of 2015 – Robot Applications —
Shipments
3. 2015 vs. 2014 First Half Totals Comparison:
New Orders and Shipments —
Units
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Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 USA Director of Communications
Telephone: (734) 994-6088 (734) 994-6088
Fax: (734) 994-3338 [email protected]
www.robotics.org
PRESS RELEASE
North American Robotics Market Sets New Records in First
Half of 2015
(Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA – August 3, 2015) The North American robotics market is off to its fastest start ever in 2015, according to new statistics released from Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.
A record 14,232 robots, valued at $840 million were ordered from North American robotics companies in the first half of 2015, an increase of one percent in units and seven percent in revenue over the same period in 2014, which held the previous record.
“We’re encouraged by the continued strength in the North American robotics market,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of RIA. “The interest in robotics remains strong not just in North America, but all over the world, as companies recognize that robots can help them improve productivity, product quality, and flexibility.”
In the first half of 2015, sales of all types of robots continued to grow in a number of key industrial segments. Semiconductors (30%), automotive components (23%), and life sciences (eight percent) increased strongly over the first half of last year. In contrast, orders to automotive OEMs cooled in the first six months, down 18% from record high performance in the first half of 2014.
The market’s best start to the year has also been realized in key robot application segments like coating/dispensing and material handling. “Robots ordered for use in coating/dispensing and material handling applications grew 36% and 27% respectively through June,” said Alex Shikany, RIA’s Director of Market Analysis. “Material handling is the largest category we measure and
touches many important industries to the robotics market. It’s encouraging to see such strong growth in this segment.” Shikany added that the notable increase in material handling applications can be traced, to some degree, to the growth in non-automotive industries such as
semiconductors/electronics, life sciences, and others. RIA estimates that some 232,000 robots are now at use in United States factories, placing the US second only to Japan in robot use.
About Robotic Industries Association (RIA)
Founded in 1974, RIA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to improving the regional, national and global competitiveness of the North American manufacturing and service sectors through promotion and enhancement of robotics and related automation. RIA represents 350 robot manufacturers, system integrators, component suppliers, end users, consulting firms, research groups, and educational institutions. The association hosts a number of events including the
National Robot Safety Conference (October 12-14, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA), the International Collaborative Robots Workshop (October 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA), the A3 Business Forum (February 3-5, 2016 in Orlando, FL) and the biennial Automate Show & Conference (April 3-6, 2017 in Chicago). RIA also provides quarterly robotics statistics and has a content-rich website, Robotics Online. For more details on RIA, visit www.robotics.org or call 734/994-6088.
About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
The Association for Advancing Automation is the global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. A3 is the umbrella group for Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, and Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA). RIA, AIA, and MCMA combined
represent some 850 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms from throughout the world that drive automation forward. For more information, please visit our websites: A3 - www.A3automate.org. RIA - www.robotics.org. AIA - www.visiononline.org. MCMA - www.motioncontrolonline.org.
robot suppliers to companies in North America. This document is based on RIA's new, harmonized format.
www.robotics.org
ROBOT
APPLICATIONS
New
Orders
‐
UNITS
Shipments
‐
UNITS
Source: Robotic Industries Association, Ann Arbor MI.
These totals are based on actual numbers submitted by participants and include sales by North American
FIRST
HALF
of
2015
Handling operations/ machine tending 50% Welding and soldering (all materials) 37% Dispensing 5% Processing 1% Assembling and dissassembling 4% Other 3% Handling operations/ machine tending 48% Welding and soldering (all materials) 38% Dispensing 4% Processing 1% Assembling and dissassembling 5% Other 4%www.robotics.org
by North American robot suppliers to companies in North America only. These totals are based on actual numbers submitted by participants and include sales
Source: Robotic Industries Association, Ann Arbor MI
- 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 15,000 18,000 New Orders Shipments 14,135 10,332 14,232 13,802
First Half of 2015 vs. 2014
New Orders and Shipments - UNITS
January - June Comparisons
2015 2014 Increase of 34% Increase of 1% $- $200.0 $400.0 $600.0 $800.0 $1,000.0 New Orders Shipments $787.8 $664.6 $839.7 $765.8
First Half of 2015 vs. 2014
New Orders & Shipments - DOLLARS
January - June Comparisons (Millions $)
2015 2014
Increase of 15%
