The number of industrial robots installed worldwide has more than tripled in ten years (2010-2019), most recently reaching 381,000 units per year. The International Federation of Robotics reports on the top 5 trends that are currently shaping industrial manufacturing around the globe.

"Industrial robots are in pole position when it comes to combining traditional production with 'digital strategies'," says Dr. Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the IFR.

Robots learn new tricks

Industrial robots are increasingly being equipped with AI software, image processing and other sensor systems to master new challenging tasks. One example of this is sorting waste on a conveyor belt, which previously could only be done by human hands. The new generations of robots are easier to install and program and can be networked. Advances in communication protocols now enable the seamless integration of robots into automation and Industry 4.0 strategies.

Robots work in smart factories

The automotive industry is pioneering smart factory solutions and using industrial robots instead of the assembly lines that have dominated traditional automotive production for more than 100 years. The future belongs to the networked interaction between robots and autonomous vehicles - or rather autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation technology, these mobile robots are much more flexible than conventional production lines. Car bodies are transported using driverless transport systems. They can be decoupled from the assembly line and diverted to assembly stations where individually equipped variants can be assembled. For complete model changes, only the robots and AMRs need to be reprogrammed instead of dismantling and rebuilding the entire production line. At the same time, the integration of workstations with human-robot collaboration is gaining momentum and robots are increasingly working hand-in-hand with humans, without any safety fences.

Robots for new markets

Kuka robots at work.

© Kuka

Breakthroughs in networking are helping to increase the use of robots in manufacturing sectors that have only recently discovered automation. These include the food and beverage, textile, wood processing and plastics industries. The ongoing digital transformation will lead to completely new business models , as manufacturers will be able to diversify more easily than ever before. In the smart factory, different products can be assembled in quick succession on the same system - the rigid traditional production line will soon be a thing of the past.

Robots help with climate protection

The requirement for industry to produce as_{CO2-neutrally} as possible in the future is encouraging investment in modern robot technology. Modern robots are energy-efficient and their use directly reduces energy consumption in production. Their precision work also means that fewer rejects and defective goods are produced, which has a positive effect on the use of resources and output. Robots are also used in the cost-efficient production of systems for renewable energies. This includes the production of photovoltaic modules or hydrogen fuel cells, for example.

Robots secure supply chains

The pandemic has exposed weaknesses in globalized supply chains. Manufacturers now have the opportunity to rethink supply chains with a completely new perspective. When automation equalizes production conditions, manufacturers gain a new flexibility that may not have been available in high-wage regions such as most countries in the European Union, North America, Japan or South Korea. Automation with robots offers productivity, flexibility and safety.

"Advances in robot technologies are contributing to an increase in the use of robots," says Bieller. "The COVID-19 pandemic has not itself triggered any new trends, but it has accelerated the use of robotics beyond established practice. In this respect, the pandemic is proving to be the biggest driver of change in the industry."