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Automotive manufacturing will proceed to drive North American robotics adoption, says A3. Supply: ABB
The Affiliation for Advancing Automation, or A3, as we speak launched its quarterly and end-of-year report on robotic orders in North America for 2023. It discovered that gross sales have been down by 30% however famous that 2021 and 2022 have been record-setting years.
Whereas North American corporations ordered 31,159 robots in 2023, in contrast with 44,196 in 2022 and 39,708 in 2021, A3 stated it expects exercise to choose up later this 12 months and into 2025. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based affiliation added that it expects each automotive producers and non-automotive sectors to renew ordering extra robots within the coming 12 months.
Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, responded to The Robotic Report‘s questions in regards to the newest report on robotic orders.
Automotive trade to remain on prime regardless of slowdown
Has the automotive trade accomplished or postponed retooling for electrical car (EV) manufacturing? What wants to alter for EV adoption to extend within the U.S.?
Burnstein: The automotive trade within the U.S. could also be transferring a bit slower on retooling than anticipated. A part of the problem will be the demand for EVs, whereas rising in states like California, remains to be decrease in different elements of the nation.
To see a nationwide growth, we’ll most likely have to see extra infrastructure in place for EVs in addition to extra incentives.
Whereas automotive has traditionally been the most important consumer of commercial robots in North America, do you see non-automotive industries persevering with to surpass it?
Burnstein: I feel the automotive trade will stay the biggest single consumer trade for robotics adoption, no less than for the subsequent a number of years.
Non-automotive industries like warehousing and distribution will develop, as will agriculture, life sciences, development, meals, and plenty of others. Taken as an entire, these non-automotive industries will seemingly surpass the automotive trade in annual purchases, which is why I’m optimistic in regards to the future potential for robotic adoption, regardless of the present slowdown in gross sales.
Economic system extra necessary than geopolitics, says A3
Do you suppose the upcoming U.S. elections or geopolitical uncertainty will have an effect on client and trade spending? On the one hand, it may assist with reshoring or nearshoring, however on the opposite, it may trigger a “wait and see” angle.
Burnstein: I feel the economic system has extra of an affect on robotic gross sales than geopolitical points. When corporations are doing nicely financially, they make investments extra closely in capital tools in addition to in folks — if labor might be discovered!
In fact, commerce wars can affect this image as we now have seen lately. Reshoring of producing to Mexico from Asia is a slow-growing pattern that can proceed, however financial growth, decrease rates of interest, and continued labor shortages in almost each trade will stay the important thing drivers for elevated adoption of automation.
With the Federal Reserve anticipated to calm down its stance a bit on rates of interest, would that assist producers and the robotics trade?
Burnstein: Decrease rates of interest ought to assist extra corporations spend money on robotics.
Be taught from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and plenty of extra.
A peek at Automate 2024
Along with extra attendees, are you able to give a sneak peek at what else can be new at Automate 2024?
Burnstein: We now have a number of new issues deliberate: a brand new Innovation Awards program, a New Product theater, an expanded Educator’s Day, a Girls in Automation program, and new exhibitors from everywhere in the world. We count on 800 exhibitors, our largest quantity ever.
An thrilling new crop of startups [is] participating in our Automate Startup Competitors. [There will also be] new purposes that incorporate synthetic intelligence [and] an expanded convention program. The automation trade is altering shortly, which is why Automate is now an annual present!
Automate 2024 can be from Could 6 to 9 in Chicago. Supply: Affiliation for Advancing Automation