Design

North American Manufacturers’ Robotics Investments Grow

This year, manufacturers in North America have purchased more robots and other automation technologies than in years past, which promises to increase manufacturers’ production efficiency and their capability to compete globally, according to the Association for Advanced Automation (A3), an automation industry’s trade group.

The group tracks the robotics, machine vision, and motion-control markets.

To assist with the process of robotic modeling, many engineers turn to CAD software. With CAD design, engineers can experiment with a variety of parts and materials, while simulating the performance of each, to hone in on each detail of the design and create more advanced robots, according to PTC, which makes CAD software.

In late 2015, the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) found that U.S. manufacturing hadn’t yet recovered from the 2008 and 2009 recession, as had been previously thought, though a full recovery may be seen by this year’s end or by 2017.

But an August 2016 MAPI report discovered good news regarding U.S. manufacturers’ investment in automation. Manufacturers that invest in automation say the technologies provide critical value by helping them differential themselves from and compete on costs with their competition, that report found.

Based upon that finding, many North American manufacturers are looking to compete.

According to A3, 14,583 robots valued at approximately $817 million were ordered from North American companies during the first half of 2016 while global shipments for motion control products grew by three percent, to $1.54 billion, in the first half of 2016.

These industrial six-axis Fanuc robots are used for welding. North American manufacturers ordered more robots during the first half of this year than during similar time frames in years past. Twenty-one percent of those orders are for robots to perform spot welding.
These industrial six-axis Fanuc robots are used for welding. North American manufacturers ordered more robots during the first half of this year than during similar time frames in years past. Twenty-one percent of those orders are for robots to perform spot welding.

The number of robotic units ordered in the first six months of 2016 marks a new record, up from two percent over the same period in 2015, though 2015 was also a record-setter, according to the association.

In the same time frame, 13,620 robots valued at $838 million were shipped to North American customers. These figures represent the second highest total for units shipped, and a new record for shipment revenue in the first half of a year, according to A3.

Global shipments for motion control products grew by three percent to $1.54 billion in the first half of 2016.

Meanwhile, the machine vision market saw a 7 percent drop in the first half of 2016, to $1.1 billion, tied to stagnation in the semiconductor industry, according to A3. The market did see record-setting years in 2014 and 2015 for North America sales.

The number of robots ordered by automotive OEMs and component suppliers increased 16 percent and four percent respectively to begin the year. Similarly, the food and consumer goods industry soared in the first half of the year, ordering 41 percent more robots than the same period in 2015.

Total orders to all other non-automotive industries decreased 14 percent.

In terms of robotics applications, the biggest increases were realized in inspection (69 percent), assembly (38 percent), and spot welding (21 percent). Meanwhile, the motion control categories that grew the most in the second quarter were electronic drives (16 percent), actuators and mechanical systems (12 percent), and motion controllers (11 percent).

A3 estimates that some 265,000 robots are now at use in North American factories, a number that lags totals in Japan and China.