According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), sales of service robots have risen by 30% worldwide, with the US still home to the largest number of service and medical robot manufacturers in the world.
In 2023, more than 205,000 robotic units were registered by IFR’s statistics department, with 162,284 units coming from the Asia-Pacific region, representing 80% of robotic units manufactured in that year.
Europe followed with 33,918 units and the Americas with 8,927 units sold. This is according to the World Robotics 2024 Service Robots report, presented by the IFR.
More than one in two professional service robots sold in 2023 were built for use in the transportation and logistics industries, where sales grew by 35% with nearly 113,000 units sold in 2023.
As these industries suffer from a significant labour shortages, there is a strong demand for support in the form of robotics and other automation technologies.
One of the most time-consuming tasks for truck drivers is loading and unloading; robotic solutions can address the issues associated with these processes. Ensuring the robots are easy to use and understand for non-technical staff is key to adoption.
A shortage of skilled workers is also driving demand for automation in outdoor environments without public traffic. Robot types in this class range from automated conventional vehicles, such as forklifts or tractors, to customised solutions, often with a weatherproof enclosure for the goods being transported.
Other industries in which robots are being used include the hospitality sector where more than 54,000 units were sold in 2023, a 31% year-on-year increase, and agriculture which saw 20,000 units sold in 2023, marking a 21% year-on-year increase.
Conversely, professional cleaning robots only saw a 4% increase year-on-year, with nearly 12,000 units sold for this purpose, most of which were for floor cleaning services.
Innovations and achievements in robotics in automation will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual Robotics & Automation Awards on 06 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.
Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable industry event – and to book your table!
