A3: Robot Orders Jump 67% in Q2 2021
Robot orders in the second quarter of 2021 rose 67% compared with the same period in 2020, signaling a return to automation demand seen before the coronavirus pandemic as manufacturers and other North American companies get back to business.
According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North American companies ordered 9,853 robots worth $501 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared with 5,196 robots sold in the second quarter of 2020 (at the height of the pandemic).
The increase in the second quarter of 2021, which is the third-largest quarter ever for robot sales overall, also showed that more than half of the units (5,530) went to customers outside the automotive industry, such as metals, semiconductors and electronics, plastics and rubber, food and consumer goods, and life sciences. All now recognize the benefits of automation.
“Thanks to a significant rise in automation sales and favorable economic conditions in the US manufacturing sector for most of 2021, it became clear that users accelerated their orders for robotics and other forms of advanced technology. Although companies have long recognized that automation improves efficiency, expands production and frees employees to perform more important tasks, the pandemic helped even more industries realize these benefits. By automating, whether for the first time or by expanding how they use automation, companies will be better prepared to handle any upcoming challenges affecting their business”
According to A3, the significant growth in robot orders in the second quarter came from companies in the following sectors:
- metals (up 99% compared with the second quarter of 2020)
- automotive components (up 85%)
- semiconductors and electronics/photonics (up 62%)
- plastics and rubber (up 51%)
- food and consumer goods (up 51%)
- automotive OEMs (up 49%)
- life sciences/pharmaceuticals/biomedicine (up 21%)
- machine vision, motion control (record growth)
In addition to the significant increase in robot orders, the machine vision, motion control and drives markets showed strong growth in the second quarter of 2020. Machine vision statistics in North America show the market grew from 26% to $764 million, a record. From January to June 2021, the North American machine vision market grew 18% to $1.5 billion, the best start to a year on record.
“This is all part of the same trend, as technologies improve and new spaces emerge. Five years ago, the logistics space was not as large as it is now, and mobile robots had not yet entered our share. Cobots may not be getting as much attention as they should because of the recent focus on AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). But they continue to grow as traditional robot makers such as ABB, FANUC, KUKA and Yaskawa become active in this space”
The motion control and drives sector recorded shipments worth $1.065 billion, 13% above second-quarter 2020 sales and a new record. The biggest growth was in motors, actuators, mechanical systems and electronic drives.
“The revival of automation we are seeing across many industries is very encouraging. Increased use of automation will not only be a win for our member companies, but will also help the US economy grow even more, as customers boost productivity and fill the millions of manufacturing jobs that remain vacant”
Both growing demand and improving technology have led to numerous partnerships and company financing. According to Burnstein, consolidation is likely to continue. A great deal of money is now invested in robotics, a dramatic change from five or ten years ago, when no one was investing in robotics equipment.
"If you look at the growing number of industries that are beginning to automate, they will need help. Most companies do not have the resources to bring all these technologies together, so integrators will continue to play a key role," Burnstein said.
A3 is North America's largest automation trade association, representing more than 1,100 organizations involved in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision and imaging, motion control and drives, and related automation technologies.
A3 is a global advocate for the benefits of automation. The association's mission is to promote automation technologies and ideas that are changing how business is done. Since its founding in 1974, A3 has become a trusted resource for companies seeking valuable education and information on how to automate successfully.
The association sponsors trade shows, conferences and other networking events, hosts a leading global website on automation technologies, collects industry statistics and conducts market research, develops consensus standards, offers certification programs, runs webinars and podcasts, and takes part in many other educational programs. A3 states: "We are the voice of the automation industry to policymakers, the media and the general public, speaking on behalf of our members worldwide."
