Articulated robots are best-selling type, accounting for almost half of sales ($12.97bn) in 2012, with usage increasing in sectors such as packaging and healthcare. The report predicts that sales of other types of robots, including customised and refurbished machines, will grow at significant pace in the coming years, due to an increasing demand from the Asia-Pacific region. It forecasts that sales of cylindrical and “other types” of robots will grow at a CAGR of 6.5% and 7.5%, respectively, over the period to 2020.
In 2012, the automotive industry dominated the global robot market with revenues worth $7.37bn. However, Allied expects a slowdown in the automotive industry to hold back the growth in sales of robots to the sector. It predicts that the food and beverage industry will achieve the highest growth rate (6.9%) over the forecast period.
Emerging markets for industrial robots include electronics and healthcare. For example “nanorobots”, which perform tasks such as mixing pharmaceutical compounds, are potentially attractive as they could help to cut lead times.
According to the report, materials-handling is the largest segment of the industrial robotics business, by function.
In 2012, Asia-Pacific was the biggest regional market for robots, accounting for 49.45% of global revenues. North America and Europe together accounted for more than a third of the market.