World Robotics News

IFR: More than 160,000 industrial robots sold in 2012

Robot supply to the United States continued to increase

Frankfurt, 28 February 2013 - "Despite the weak global economic development in 2012 the demand for global robot sales almost reached the all-time-high level of 2011", said Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on Thursday in Frankfurt. "Investments in automation are ongoing!"

The continuing success story of industrial robots

Further increase of worldwide industrial robot sales in 2012 by nine percent

Taipei, 30 August 2012 - "The success story of industrial robots is continuing in 2012 and beyond" , said Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on the occasion of the publication of the study "World Robotics 2012 - Industrial Robots", on Thursday in Taipei. "Despite the weakening global economic situation a further robot sales increase of about nine percent to about 181,000 units is likely in 2012. The IFR Statistical Department expects that between 2013 and 2015 worldwide robot sales will increase by about 5% on average per year. In 2015, the annual supply of industrial robots will reach more than 200,000 units."

Statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers

World Robotics 2012 published

Please read the statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers on the latest robot figures published on 30 August 2012.

Professional service robots

Continued increase

Taipei, 30 August 2012 - About 16,400 service robots for professional use were sold in 2011, 9% more than in 2010, reports the IFR Statistical Department in the new study "World Robotics 2012 - Service Robots", which was published on Thursday in Taipei. The sales value increased by 6% to US$ 3.6 billion.

Industrial breakthrough with robots

2011: The most successful year for industrial robots since 1961

"2011 was the most successful year for industrial robots in 50 years. Since the first installation in 1961 more than 2.3 million were sold all over the world! " stated Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 at the AUTOMATICA in Munich. "And the robotics industry is looking forward to a bright future."

Robot sales in 2011 exceeded all expectations

Sales increased by 30 percent to about 150,000 units

"The success of the global robotics industry continued in 2011," said Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on Thursday in Frankfurt. "Investments in robot automation again surged in all regions!"

IFR: All-time-high for industrial robots

Substantial increase of industrial robot installations is continuing

Frankfurt, 1 September 2011 - "Making a future with Robot is a perfect slogan for the worldwide robotics industry today", said Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on the occasion of the publication of the study "World Robotics 2011 - Industrial Robots", on Thursday in Frankfurt. After another substantial rise of 18% in robot sales in 2011 to about 140,000 units - a new peak level - a further increase will resume in the period between 2012 and 2014, about 6% per year on average attaining a level of about 167,000 units in 2014. The stock of robots operating in the factories world-wide will increase to about 1.3 million units at the end of 2014. "However, it is still possible that due to a shortage of components and capacity problems a part of these expected robot installations in 2011 will have to be shifted to 2012", annotated Sakakibara and added: "Certain risks are involved with regard to this rather optimistic forecast, i.e. weakening growth of the world economy or even a new recession caused by financial problems of major markets."

Statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers

World Robotics 2011 published

Please read the statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers on the latest robot figures published on 1 September 2011.

Professional service robots - Military systems and milking robots predominate

Continued robust growth between 2011 and 2014

More than 13,700 service robots for professional use were sold in 2010, 4% more than in 2009, reports the IFR Statistical Department in the new study "World Robotics 2011 - Service Robots", which was published on Thursday in Frankfurt. The sales value increased by 15% to US$3.2 billion.