Assembly Lines: Robot Sales Increase in First Half of 2003
ANN ARBOR, MI—According to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), 7,005 robots valued at $446.2 million were ordered by North American manufacturing companies through June. An additional 211 robots valued at $19.5 million were ordered from North American robotics suppliers by manufacturing companies located outside of North America. The combined totals of 7,216 robots valued at $465.7 million represent gains of 34 percent in units and 15 percent in dollars over the first half of 2002.
Robotics for spot welding and material handling applications led the way. While the automotive industry remains the largest customer for robotics, RIA reports increasing demand for robots in other industries, such as food and beverages, consumer goods, life sciences and plastics.