MT Magazine January/February 2023

FEATURE STORY

AUTOMATION ISSUE

14

in 2021 in all major customer industries, although supply chain disruptions as well as different local or regional headwinds hampered production.” Yes, global manufacturers are embracing an increasing number of robots. If there is any question about the usefulness and importance of robots and automation, realize that the 517,385 number is a 31% year-on-year increase,

The United States had the third-greatest number of installations: 34,987 units.

The United States had the third-greatest number of [robot] installations: 34,987 units.

Electronics Application However, to be fair, it is worth knowing that the leading application area for robots in China is electronics. According to market research firm IBISWorld, “China is the world’s manufacturing center for electronic products, such as TVs, computers, handsets andother electronic devices. Subsequently, China’s output of certain electronic components is the highest in the world, especially for commonly used and medium- and low-end electronic components.” If we look at where robots went in Chinese manufacturing, it isn’t surprising: the electrical/electronics category. There were some 88,000 units installed. But here’s something to put on your radar screen: The automotive segment was No. 2 on the installation list: approximately 62,000. And keep this one in mind: While the growth of robot installations in electrical/electronics in China was up 38%, it was up 97% in the auto sector. Clearly, durable goods is an area of focus. Living in the USA At this point, you may be starting to think simply, “Yes, they use a lot of robots in China, but I live in the United States. What’s the landscape here for robots?” The top category of industrial robot use in the United States is the one where it really began: automotive. In 2021 there were 9,782 robots installed in the U.S. auto industry, which happens to be a decrease of 7% compared with 2020 – and 2020 was down some 19% since 2019.

and while you may shrug at that, writing it off as 2020 – when COVID-19 was causing, to use Ms. Bill’s language, “supply chain disruptions” and “local or regional headwinds” on a global scale – know that the previous record was set in 2018, 423,321 units, so the trend is non-trivial and indicative of the fact that the use of the multifunctional machines is on the rise. Where Are They? Let’s set the stage, recognizing that your competitors are not necessarily down the street or across town, but likely somewhere else on Earth. The country with the largest GDP in the world is the United States. The second largest is China, which is nearing the end of the “Made in China 2025” initiative that started in 2015 in order to gain a technical advantage. So know that of the 517,385 robots installed in the world, 268,195 – more than half – were installed in China. A country where robots have long been part of the fabric of manufacturing, Japan, is in second place, at 47,182 robots.