Record Number of Robots Shipped in North America in 2018, with More Non-Automotive Installed Than Ever Before

Robotic Industries Association (RIA) stats show continued growth in
food & consumer goods, plastics & rubber, life sciences and other
sectors, while sales to automotive customers slow

ANN ARBOR, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/A3?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#A3lt;/agt;–Robots shipped to North American companies in record numbers last year,
with more non-automotive companies installing robots than ever before.
Statistics from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), part of the Association
for Advancing Automation (A3), show 35,880 units were shipped in
2018, a 7 percent increase over 2017, with 16,702 shipments to
non-automotive companies, up 41 percent. Notable growth came in areas
like food and consumer goods (48 percent), plastics and rubber (37
percent), life sciences (31 percent), and electronics (22 percent).

Meanwhile, shipments to the automotive industry slowed, with only 19,178
units shipped to North American automotive OEM and tier supplier
customers in 2018. This was 12 percent lower than the 21,732 units
shipped in 2017. Overall, the automotive industry accounted for only 53
percent of total robot shipments in North America in 2018, its lowest
percentage share since 2010.

“While the automotive industry has always led the way in implementing
robotics here in North America, we are quite pleased to see other
industries continuing to realize the benefits of automation,” Burnstein
said. “And as we’ve heard from our members and at shows such as
Automate, these sales and shipments aren’t just to large, multinational
companies anymore. Small and medium-sized companies are using robots to
solve real-world challenges, which is helping them be more competitive
on a global scale.”

Learn More About Robotics at Automate 2019 April 8-11 in Chicago
Focusing
on the theme of Win the Future, Automate 2019 will explore how
automation such as robotics will secure a company’s success in a
technologically fast-paced world that is rapidly shifting the dynamic of
today’s manufacturing. More than 400 robotic vendors, integrators and
other automation companies will demonstrate their solutions on the show
floor, with many also sharing expertise in the conference sessions.

Attendees registering
for both the show and conference get free access to the show floor.
Press passes and exhibitor news are available at the Automate
press site.

To view the full conference agenda and register, please visit www.automateshow.com.

About RIA
Founded in 1974, RIA is a not-for-profit trade
association dedicated to improving the regional, national and global
competitiveness of the North American manufacturing and service sectors
through promotion and enhancement of robotics and related automation.
RIA represents over 550 robot manufacturers, system integrators,
component suppliers, end users, consulting firms, research groups, and
educational institutions. The association hosts a number of events
including the biennial Automate Show & Conference (April 8-11, 2019 in
Chicago), the International Robot Safety Conference (October 15-17, 2019
in Indianapolis), the Collaborative Robots, Advanced Vision & AI
Conference (CRAV.AI; November 12-13, 2019 in San Jose, CA), and the A3
Business Forum (January 13-15, 2020 in Orlando, FL). RIA also provides
quarterly robotics statistics and has a content-rich website, Robotics
Online. For more details on RIA, visit www.robotics.org
or call 734/994-6088.

About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
The
Association for Advancing Automation is the global advocate for the
benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas
that transform the way business is done. A3 is the umbrella group for
Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA – Advancing Vision + Imaging,
Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA) and A3 Mexico. RIA, AIA, MCMA
and A3 Mexico combined represent over 1,200 automation manufacturers,
component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and
consulting firms from throughout the world that drive automation
forward. For more information, visit: A3, RIA, AIA, MCMA, A3
Mexico.

Contacts

Kelly Wanlass
Hughes Communications, Inc.
(801) 602-4723
[email protected]

Bob Doyle
Association for Advancing Automation
(734) 994-6088
[email protected]