Published 5/11/2017

Robotics Orders, Shipments Soar in North America

Robotics orders and shipments saw great increases in the first quarter of 2017, notably in welding, automotive components and metals applications.

Automation

Edited by: MMS Editorial Team

North American robotics companies posted the strongest ever first-quarter results, according to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). Both robot orders and shipments achieved record levels, with notable surges among automotive component suppliers and non-automotive metals industries.

An all-time high total of 9,773 robots valued at approximately $516 million were reportedly ordered from North American robotics companies during the first quarter of 2017. This represents growth of 32 percent in units over the same period in 2016, which held the previous record. Order revenue grew 28 percent over the first quarter of last year. Robot shipments also reached new heights, with 8,824 robots valued at $494 million shipped to North American customers in the opening quarter of the year. This represents growth of 24 percent in units and 5 percent in dollars over the same period in 2016.

“The automation industry continues to grow robustly as companies invest to increase productivity and boost competitiveness while also providing opportunities for workers,” says Jeff Burnstein, president of RIA. “We are excited to hear about the new jobs being created and how companies such as Amazon, GM and others are training and retraining their workforce to enable them to embrace these higher skilled jobs.”

Growth in automotive related industries also soared in the first quarter of 2017. Robots ordered by automotive component suppliers were up 53 percent while orders by automotive OEMs increased 32 percent. Another good sign for the future of robotics, according to RIA, was the continued growth in non-automotive industries like metals (54 percent), semiconductors/electronics (22 percent), and food and consumer goods (15 percent).

The biggest increases were in arc welding (102 percent), coating and dispensing (64 percent), and spot welding (36 percent) applications. RIA estimates that 250,000 robots are now in use in the United States, the third highest in the world behind Japan and China.

Robotic Industries Association, visit robotics.org.