Sales of industrial robots benefited from the economic recovery after the Corona crisis. Last year, 517,385 new systems were installed in companies around the world, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). That was an increase of 31 percent compared to the Corona crisis year 2020.
The previous record from 2018 was reportedly exceeded by 22 percent. Germany recorded an increase of 6 percent to 23,777 newly installed robots and defended its leading position as the most automated economy in Europe.
According to the information, a good one in three industrial robots in Europe (36 percent) is in use between Flensburg and Munich. With a total of 245,908 units, German industry ranks first in Europe. “Robot manufacturers record their second-best sales result ever in Germany in 2021 – only surpassed by the result from 2018,” said Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics.
Largest buyers of industrial robots
The largest customer in Germany is traditionally the automotive industry. With 9061 units, however, sales in 2021 were 6 percent lower than in the previous year. On the other hand, demand from the metalworking industry as well as from the chemical and plastics industries rose sharply.
The association estimates that demand in Germany will still benefit from catch-up effects this year. However, temporary bottlenecks in natural gas and electricity are likely to slow down investments. If the German economy slips into recession, the association does not rule out falling installation numbers.
Asia was the world’s largest market for industrial robots last year. 74 percent of all newly deployed systems were installed there. Globally, sales in all important customer industries have grown strongly, although production has been hampered by interruptions in supply chains, Bill reported. Within six years, annual robot installations would have more than doubled globally.
Press page IFR
