Robot Orders Down in First Half of 2009 Aug 17, 2009

Printable format  Email this Article  Search

Aug. 17, 2009. North American based robotics companies saw orders for new robots decline 36% in units and 47% in dollars through the first half of 2009, according to Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.

The second quarter saw declines of 43% in units and 51% in dollars over the same period in 2008. The quarter was also down 29% in units and 26% in dollars from 1Q 2009.

"While the first half numbers do have some bright spots, such as a 34% increase in orders from the Life Sciences/Pharmaceutical/Biomedical industries and a 7% increase in orders from the food & consumer goods sector, the reality is that we’re in the midst of a sharp decline that will likely last into 2010. However, recent economic data indicates that the worst of the recession may be behind us, which would be welcome news for everyone in our industry," said Tammy Mulcahy of ABB Robotics, Chair of RIA’s Statistics Committee.

RIA estimates that more than 190,000 robots are now being used in the United States, placing the United States second only to Japan in overall robot use. It’s estimated that more than 1 million robots are being used worldwide, with countries such as China, Korea, and India rapidly expanding their investments in robotics.

Back to Daily News