Robot Orders Surge 31 per cent in First Quarter of 2011

Citation

(2011), "Robot Orders Surge 31 per cent in First Quarter of 2011", Industrial Robot, Vol. 38 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2011.04938faa.003

Robot Orders Surge 31 per cent in First Quarter of 2011

Article Type: News From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 38, Issue 6

North American robotics companies enjoyed their best opening quarter since 2007, according to new statistics released by Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.

A total of 4,021 robots valued at $263.5 million were ordered by North American manufacturing companies through March, an increase of 31 per cent in units and 27 per cent in dollars.

“We’re very encouraged by the strong start to 2011 as a follow-up to the unit growth of 39 per cent in 2010,” said Jeff Burnstein, RIA’s President. “However, we are a bit cautious about the next few quarters due to interruptions in the supply chain caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.”

RIA said that much of the new order growth in the first quarter came from the automotive industry, where unit growth jumped 64 per cent. While non-automotive orders increased just 3 per cent overall, the metals sector jumped 73% and life sciences/pharmaceutical/biomedical gained 61 per cent.

“The automotive industry remains highly-cyclical and right now we’re riding the upsurge in terms of automotive investment in robotics and automation,” said John Dulchinos, Chair of RIA’s Statistics Committee and President and CEO at Adept Technology, Inc.

RIA estimates that some 203,000 robots are now used in the United States. More than one million industrial robots are used worldwide.

Founded in 1974, RIA represents some 265 companies, including leading robot manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end-users, research groups and consulting firms. RIA’s quarterly statistics report is based on data supplied by member companies representing an estimated 90 per cent of the North American market.