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by Stephanie Neil, MA Editorial Staff
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 1:00:00 AM Sign Up to receive Daily News Alerts in your E-mail Inbox    | Abstract: | While robot orders fell 23% year-over-year in the first half of 2008, the slip in sales can be turned around, say industry watchers, as robot purchases in non-automotive industries, such as semiconductors, metals, plastics, and rubber, are on the rise. And even bigger opportunities lie within the life sciences and alternative energy industries. |
| Keywords: | robot orders, robot purchases, robotics industry |
Growth in the sale of robots in North America is always heavily impacted by the buying trends in the automotive industry. Given the economic hardship clouding this industry, it's no surprise that robot orders fell 23% in the first half of 2008, compared with the same period last year.
"2008 is a very challenging year in North America for the robotics industry and other capital equipment industries," said Åke Lindqvist, group vice president of ABB Robotics and chairman of the Robotic Industries Association's (RIA's) Statistics Committee, in a statement. "With the economy either in a recession or on the edge of one, manufacturing companies are being quite cautious when it comes to investing in automation. This is especially true in the automotive industry, the largest customer for robotics."
The slip in sales can be turned around, industry watchers said, as robot purchases in non-automotive industries, such as semiconductors, metals, plastics, and rubber, are on the rise. But perhaps the biggest growth opportunity lies within the life sciences and alternative energy industries.
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