Demand for Toshiba Machine robots in Asia in contrast to overall market trend

Citation

(2003), "Demand for Toshiba Machine robots in Asia in contrast to overall market trend", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930bab.001

Demand for Toshiba Machine robots in Asia in contrast to overall market trend

Demand for Toshiba Machine robots in Asia in contrast to overall market trend

Keywords: Robots, Marketing, Statistics, Toshiba

Asian manufacturers, using Toshiba Machine industrial robots, are reporting increased trade in China and South Asia. Toshiba Machine’s controls systems division has been forced to start an extra shift to meet demand (Plate 1).

In 2001 there were 660 new robot installations in Taiwan, 300 in Singapore and 4,080 in the Republic of Korea. There were 2,250 robots installed in other Asian countries and 28,369 in Japan. Overall, this represents 35,659 new installations, compared to 54,827 in 2000. Thus the increased demand for Toshiba Machine robots is in distinct contrast to market trends.

Plate 1 Asian manufacturers, using Toshiba Machine industrial robots, are reporting increased trade in China and South Asia

“Japan has always been the world’s leading automation marketplace,” said Nigel Smith, Managing Director of TM Robotics. “In the early nineties, it seemed as if everything that could be, was robotised. In the market overall, this has slowed. However, Toshiba Machine’s share of that market is still increasing. Part of this is because of its expertise in SCARA and CNC technology. Furthermore, Toshiba Machine meets the requirements of its customers exactly. It produces bespoke four axis solutions as well as the standard robot thus meeting the constantly changing requirements of its customers.”

Up until this April, investment facilities in Japan appeared frozen, but since then there have been signs of improvement. “Toshiba Machine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of SCARA robots”, said Haruhiko Tsuchiya, Sales Manager at Toshiba Machine’s Control System Division. “Although price competition is severe, Toshiba Machine is maintaining its market share, with its order level much improved compared to the last fiscal half-year terms.”

There is also the prospect of radically increased robot use in Europe. “In 2004, several Eastern European countries will be joining the European union”, said Smith. These countries will have to meet the exacting European health and safety standards. This will drive up robot sales in Europe as cheap manual labour ceases to be an option. As, labour costs rise, automation will become the only solution. In 2001 there was a definite worldwide shift of emphasis towards Europe. We would like to see further uptake of SCARA, and Cartesian technology through Europe.”