How has the crisis year 2020 changed investments in robots in Germany? In which segments is there growth - and where is there a slump?

The crisis has led to a reluctance to invest, but has also caused many local companies to think about regional production. This is associated with a growing interest in automation, although orders are still being placed hesitantly. Growth is most likely to be seen among producers of everyday consumer goods, with declines in the automotive supplier sector, among others.

What innovations are currently driving growth? Have robots become more accessible for newcomers?

Simple commissioning and programming are playing an increasingly important role in robotics. This is particularly true for the use of cobots, as these are often used outside of large-scale industrial production by companies that have little experience in robotics. In terms of innovations, we see a trend towards intelligent robotics based on sensor technology or vision processes. Intelligent robots are particularly suitable for the production of highly individualized products, which are becoming increasingly widespread in almost all industrial sectors, and they therefore make a sustainable contribution to the efficient use of energy and resources.

Let's take a look at the cobot segment. What is more important here: mobility and flexibility in use or human-robot collaboration?

Both are important. In fact, cobots often perform tasks on their own, but in an environment where people are present. That's why, when developing our latest cobot, the CRX, we focused on ensuring that it is both mobile and flexible and can be used reliably in direct collaboration with humans. In addition to mobility and flexibility, ease of use for the user is of crucial importance. That is why we have simplified and intuitively designed the programming via a tablet.