Robot Density and the Automated Future of Manufacturing

The ever-increasing integration of robots is fuelling a radical transformation of the manufacturing landscape. The role of robots continues to evolve with constant technological innovation and lightning-fast adoption.

What is robot density?

The International Federation of Robotics tracks the data on the volume of industrial robot installations globally, expressing it as robot density. It’s measured in the number of robots per 10,000 employees.

This metric has provided a practical way of observing and comparing the level of automation in different countries and regions.

Taking a look at the total number of global robot stock, we can see that automation has been trending for a while. The global robot stock has nearly doubled in the last 5 years, with over half a million new industrial robots installed every year.

Global and regional trends on automation

Around the globe, different countries are embracing automation at varying rates. The competitive landscape in the global market is shifting, with those at the forefront of automated manufacturing gaining a strategic advantage. Adapting to these global trends is essential for the sustained growth of industries.

When comparing growth in different regions it’s clear that Asia stands out with 73% of all new industrial robot installations coming from this region. By far the largest contributor was China, which recorded more industrial robot installations (52%) than the rest of the world combined. Europe is the second largest adopter of automation, with The Americas following close behind.

Looking at individual countries, Switzerland and Slovenia come in at a respectable 7th and 11th place in robot density, which puts them significantly over the global average.

The top 5 industries for robot adoption

Electronics — The electronics industry was the leading adopter of robots with 157,000 installations globally. We have previously shown how valuable robots can be to electronics manufacturers.

Automotive — The automotive industry has been a leader in using robots for decades, but it is no longer the top industry. In 2022, there were 136,000 robot installations globally in automotive companies for applications like assembly, painting, and welding.

Metal and machinery — The metalworking industry saw 66,000 new robot installations in the past year, with many companies seeing improved production times and quality control over human labor.

Plastic and chemicals — The plastics industry saw 24,000 robot installations in 2022, helping plastics companies to improve their productivity while also helping their sustainability efforts.

Food — The food industry's adoption of robots reached an all-time high with 15,000 globally, for applications like picking, packing, and distribution.

Benefits of increasing automation

Higher robot density translates into an advantage in efficiency and productivity. Robots excel at repetitive and precise tasks, leading to faster production cycles and reduced errors.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Beyond efficiency gains, automated manufacturing contributes to sustainability goals. High robot density aligns with the growing emphasis on eco-friendly practices within industries by reducing waste, optimizing energy consumption, and minimizing environmental impact.

Market trends and outlook

According to estimates, over 600 thousand new industrial robots will be installed in 2024. It’s undeniable, the reshaped automated future presents significant opportunities and challenges. It’s enabling SMEs easier access to larger-scale production, it’s changing supply chains, and it’s addressing labor scarcity issues.

Embracing the opportunities brought forth by high robot density ensures a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable manufacturing sector. At VIAL Automation we are embracing this trend and playing our part in the development and implementation of efficient automated solutions.