North American robotics market has strongest year ever in 2014

Robot orders and shipments in North America set new records in 2014, according to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), Ann Arbor, Mich.

A total of 27,685 robots valued at $1.6 billion were ordered from North American companies during 2014, an increase of 28 percent in units and 19 percent in dollars over 2013. Robot shipments also set new records, with 25,425 robots valued at $1.5 billion being shipped to North American customers in 2014. Shipments grew 13 percent in units and 6 percent in dollars over the previous records set in 2013.

The automotive industry was the primary driver of growth in 2014, with robot orders increasing 45 percent year over year. Nonautomotive industries also performed well throughout the year, growing 7 percent in total over 2013. The standout nonautomotive industries in 2014 in terms of order growth were plastics and rubber (25 percent), semiconductor and electronics (21 percent), and metals (16 percent).

The fastest-growing applications for robot orders in North America in 2014 were arc welding (+58 percent), spot welding (+57 percent), assembly (+16 percent), and material handling (+11 percent). RIA estimates that some 230,000 robots are now at use in U.S. factories, placing the U.S. second only to Japan in robot use.