ANN ARBOR, MI-North American manufacturing companies purchased 14,838 robots valued at nearly $1 billion in 2004, a 20 percent increase in units over 2003 and the industry's second best unit total ever, according to a report from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA).
Orders by North American automotive manufacturers and their suppliers accounted for about 64 percent of the total, down from 68 percent in 2003. According to Donald A. Vincent, executive vice president of RIA, this indicates robots are gaining acceptance in a diverse range of companies in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, electronics, aerospace and life sciences.