Germany is European champion in industrial robots

IFR

Yvonne Junginger, 19.10.2022, 15:06

Germany is European champion in industrial robots

The number of industrial robots installed in Germany in 2021 increased by 6% year-on-year to 23,777 units. With a total of 245,908 units, the German industry ranks first in Europe.

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Industrial robots in Germany in units of 1000.

With the publication of the "World Robotics 2022" yearbook, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reports that a good one in three industrial robots in Europe are in use between Flensburg and Munich.

The automotive industry is traditionally the largest customer, accounting for a market share of 38% of installed units in 2021. At 9,061 units, sales were 6% lower than in the previous year and roughly on a par with 2017. The metalworking industry installed 3,376 units in the same period, achieving an increase of 33%. The chemical and plastics processing industry followed in third place with an increase of 39% to 1,975 installed units.

Industrial robots in Germany in units of 1000.

Cheaper low-cost robots are experiencing a surge in demand. Unlike traditional industrial robots, these models can dispense with the high demands on precision, payloads or durability in 24-hour continuous operation. Easy-to-use programming interfaces allow users to install and set up the devices themselves. Such robot solutions are a cost-effective option for automating new fields of application.

According to the forecast, demand for robots on the German market will still benefit from catch-up effects in 2022. However, the optimistic mood in the economy is dampened by the geopolitical crises and makes forecasting more difficult than usual: temporary bottlenecks in natural gas and electricity will put the brakes on investments. Overall, a sideways movement in robot installation figures is to be expected. If the German economy slips into recession or is impacted by other factors, installation figures are likely to fall. If, on the other hand, political and supply chain problems are resolved, strong growth in robot installations can be expected.

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