Record sales dynamics - more than just numbers, but a change in structure
In 2013-2017, global resources industrial robots increased by 114 percent, which means that sales doubled. In 2017, a new peak was reached - 381 thousand units shipped to the global market. This is not only the result of an increase in the number of factories, but also changes in production strategies: robots are no longer just a tool for large corporations, but an element of industrial infrastructure on any scale.
The value of sales also reached a record - 16.2 billion US dollars. This indicates increasing investment in technologies that not only replace human labor, but also improve the quality and precision of production. The increase in sales value indicates the development of new functionalities - from image recognition to AI learning - which have increased the added value of robots.
China and Japan - two market poles: consumer and producer
In 2017, China accounted for 36 percent of global sales industrial robots, making it the largest market in history. In the same year, China bought more robots than Europe and Latin America combined.
Japan, on the other hand, was the largest producer - it supplied 56 percent of the global supply. This confirms its position as a technological leader in this field. The 45 percent increase in exports over one year shows that Japan not only produces but also expands into global markets. However, it is surprising that foreign suppliers increased sales in China by 72 percent, which means that the Chinese market is becoming increasingly open to international competition.
Industrial automation - from cars to electronics
The largest consumer of robots remains the automotive industry, which accounted for 33 percent of all units in 2017. The 22 percent increase was due to the complexity of electric and hybrid car production - new models require greater precision and flexibility in assembly processes.
The second-largest market became the electronics industry, which achieved a 32 percent share - with a 33 percent increase in sales. This growth was driven by the need to automate the production of microcomponents, batteries, and screens. Robots can handle very small details at high speed and accuracy - which is crucial for the quality of next-generation electronics.
Robots in metallurgy and industry - growing potential
The metal industry, including machinery, metal products, and metallurgy, recorded an exceptional increase in sales of 55 percent in 2017 - accounting for 10 percent of the global supply. This is a sign that automation is no longer limited to high-precision industries.
Analyses indicate a growing demand for cobalt and lithium, which are crucial for battery production. This means that robots will be increasingly used in industrial processes related to the energy of the future - from metallurgy to the assembly of battery components.
Significance for industry and the future of work
Increase in sales industrial robots is not just a statistic - it is a structural transformation. In 2017, the average density of robots in industry was 85 units per 10,000 employees, which means that robots are already part of the daily work of factories. Europe has the highest density - 106 units per 10,000 people, and North America - 91.
This is not only a technological but also an economic effect: companies are investing in robots to increase productivity and respond to changing market demands. The future of industry will depend on the ability to adapt quickly - and robots are key to this flexibility.
