"The current uncertainties do not allow for a precise forecast for the current year," says Wilfried Eberhardt, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation. "However, industry sales before the outbreak of the pandemic were better than initially assumed, as the annual statistics for 2019 show. Robotics and automation from Germany recorded the second-highest turnover to date of 14.7 billion euros, with a slight decline of two percent compared to the previous year. A decline of five percent was originally forecast."

A comparison of the three sub-sectors
The robotics and automation sub-sectors developed differently in 2019: Integrated Assembly Solutions recorded a decline in turnover of four percent to eight billion euros. Turnover in robotics fell only slightly by two percent to four billion euros. Machine vision, on the other hand, saw a slight increase: Industry turnover rose by one percent to 2.8 billion euros.

New tasks for robotics and automation
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the robotics and automation industry has taken on new tasks: Companies are delivering numerous new solutions in the fight against Covid-19 in a fast-track process. Production lines in Germany for the mass production of respiratory masks and laboratory products have been created very flexibly. Vaccine development and mass testing are benefiting from the advancing automation of laboratory processes. Disinfection robots are used in hospitals. Even communication robots are making their contribution by bringing virtual family visits to nursing homes that are subject to visiting bans.

Robots are immune
New rules on infection protection require minimum distances between people - also in production. This is where robots or automated process steps are helpful in practical implementation. Collaborative robots (cobots), which work directly with humans, can play to their strengths here. They assist people at close range without posing a risk of infection. Robotics thus contributes to safe and flexible production. In addition, the increase in online trade is making the use of robots in logistics more attractive.

The coronavirus pandemic will prove to be a veritable digitalization accelerator. As in the office environment, new technologies must also be introduced quickly in production - for example, for remote maintenance and virtual commissioning of complex systems. "Digital services, which were already available before the coronavirus crisis, were suddenly indispensable and put users and providers on a steep learning curve. This is driving the smart factory forward and providing important long-term growth impetus for robotics and automation," says Wilfried Eberhardt.

New potential after Covid-19
The coronavirus crisis has highlighted how vulnerable industrial production has become in global value chains. The realization that more resilience is required opens up new potential for robotics and automation. Supply chains are being rethought and critical parts and products are being manufactured more locally - and with greater vertical integration. Economically, this can only be achieved with an increased level of automation. New production technology is also required for sustainability, climate neutrality and new drive concepts in mobility. In addition, there are considerable catch-up effects from previously postponed investments. All of this will fuel demand for robotics and automation in the post-coronavirus era, offering the industry excellent prospects for the future. as