1999 robot sales were second highest ever
Keywords: Robots, BARA
The publication by the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA), of UK Robot Sales Statistics for 1999 reveals that 1,392 robots were sold in the UK last year, bringing the operational stock to 11,537. Since records began in 1978 the annual sale figure was higher only in 1997, an exceptional year. However, despite the steady overall rise in robot use, a mixed picture emerges throughout the different user industries.
For example, automotive use was up by 558 units, whereas sales into all other industry areas were down significantly on 1998. Investment by plastics moulding companies was 50 per cent less while educational sales dropped by a staggering 90 per cent.
Said Meta Vision Systems' Mike Wilson, the current president of BARA: "Despite the encouraging total sales in 1999, the automotive industry's domination of the figures make the overall picture look less promising. It presents a worrying trend, particularly given the difficulties being experienced in the automotive sector at this time.
"Another disturbing statistic is the large drop in robot sales to the educational sector, from 31 in 1998 units to just three last year. Hopefully. this is skewed by the way the sampling dates have fallen and does not indicate a reduction in the use of robots for teaching purposes."
However, in certain application areas such as biochemistry, hazardous environments and materials handling, the adoption of robots is increasing. It is important to keep this in perspective, though; 433 robots were sold for spot welding (up by nearly 50 per cent) and 250 for arc welding compared with 150 for biochemistry/hazardous applications (up 10 per cent) and 156 for material handling (up 100 per cent). The latter figure is even higher if one adds the 35 robots bought for palletising and packaging, a sector of the market buoyed by the recent appearance of a number of low-cost, four-axis robots designed specifically for these applications. Nevertheless, six-axis CNC models still dominate the industry by a factor of ten over the next most popular three-axis robots.
A further trend is an increase in the average price of robotic systems purchased, despite a real reduction in unit cost. The majority of investment is now in the £30,000 to £50,000 range with a near 50 per cent rise,whereas the £10,000 to £30,000 band dominated in 1998. The £50,000 to £100,000 range enjoyed a similar upturn during 1999. The figures seem to indicate an increase in both the size and complexity of systems being purchased.
Sadly, the number of UK-produced robots, 145 in 1999, is in decline with the majority of production now centred in the EC (892 units) and Japan (353 units)(see Figure 1).
Figure 1 Industrial robots facts. Country of origin of robots installed in UK
The international statistics are expected to be issued in October. It is anticipated these will show a further decline in the use of robots in the UK relative to our main competitors such as Germany, France and Italy.
Commented John D'Angelillo, managing director of Motoman Robotics (UK), one of the leading robotic system suppliers in the UK: "The 1999 survey is broadly in line with our experience of the market. We noticed in particular a steep increase in palletising and handling sales to almost parity with arc welding; and woodworking was also a significant growth industry for us last year.
"The Rover/BMW situation has, however, affected automotive robot sales in the first part of 2000 and I think this year's figures will be adversely affected as a result. It is encouraging, therefore, that development of other market sectors is diluting the dominance of automotive manufacture in the application of robots."
The full survey, UK Robot Sales Statistics for 1999, is available free of charge from the BARA Web site www.bara.org.ukunder the heading "News".
BARA now runs in partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group's automation application research group, led by Dr Ken Young, who was responsible for putting together the figures for this survey. He points out that membership of the association is free to robot system users and academia. Registration is possible on the BARA Web site or by e-mailing full contact details to bara@bara.org.uk
BARA, International Manufacturing Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry,CV4 7AL. Tel: (0) 24 7657 3742; Fax: (0) 24 7657 3743; E-mail: bara@bara.org.uk; Web site: www.bara.org.uk
