Sales figures for industrial robots have recovered strongly worldwide, making 2021 the most successful year ever for the robotics industry," says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). "With technological advances and the continuing trend towards automation, demand is reaching a high level across all industries. In 2021, the record result from 2018 was even exceeded with 422,000 installations." The strongest growth was in Asia/Australia with an increase of 33% to 354,500 units. Demand in North, Central and South America rose by 27% to 49,400 installed units. Europe recorded double-digit growth of 15% and 78,000 installed units.

Strong demand across all sectors

The electronics industry (132,000 installations, +21%), which had already replaced the automotive industry (109,000 installations, +37%) as the largest buyer of industrial robots in 2020, recorded the highest demand in the 2021 financial year. This was followed by the metal and mechanical engineering industry (57,000 installations, +38%), ahead of the plastics and chemical industry (22,500 installations, +21%) and the food and beverage industry (15,300 installations, +24%).

Recovery in Europe

According to ifr, after two years of decline, sales figures for industrial robots in Europe recovered significantly in 2021 and even exceeded the record result from 2018 of 75,600 units. Demand from the automotive industry, the most important customer sector, moved sideways at a high level (19,300 installations, +/- 0%). Demand from the metal and mechanical engineering sector rose sharply (15,500 installations, +50%), followed by plastics and chemical products (7,700 installations, +30%).

Recovery in America

In North, Central and South America, the number of industrial robots installed reached its second-best result ever. This was only surpassed in the record year 2018 before the pandemic (55,200 installations). The largest regional market, the United States, installed 33,800 units - corresponding to a market share of 68%.

Asia remains the world's largest market

Asia remains the world's largest market for industrial robots: 73% of all newly installed units were installed in Asia in 2021. With 354,500 robots installed, the region recorded an increase of 33% compared to 2020. The electronics industry had by far the strongest demand (123,800 installations, +22%), followed by the automotive industry (72,600 installations, +57%) and the metal and mechanical engineering industry (36,400 installations, +29%).