What was it like to be in the robotics industry in 2022?

Hi, my name is Ginny Foster, and I want to share with you...

What it was like to be in the robotics industry in 2022!

2022 was a very important year in terms of the growth of robotics in North America.?Statistically speaking, it was another record-breaking year.?According to data released from the Association of Advancing Automation (A3), in the first nine months of 2022 alone, North American companies purchased 35,804 industrial robotics units.?

That’s almost the same number of robots deployed in all of 2021 squeezed into the first nine months of 2022.

If you compare the Q1, Q2, and Q3 of 2022 to the previous year, you’ll see a 24% increase in units sold.

Why was 2022 an important year for robotics?

For me, 2022 was an important year because leading value-added wire, cable, connectivity and automation distributor GCG announced the acquisition of Neff Power.?This acquisition benefits our customers, our suppliers, as well as our team!?

From an industry perspective, 2022 is yet another year in a compounding series of years of growth: 2020, 2021, and now 2022.

The first year in the series is 2020, not just because of the pandemic, but because this year marked non-automotive robotic deployment exceeding automotive robotic deployment for the first time.?Prior to 2020, car and truck manufacturers were the primary users of robotic solutions.

After 2020, non-automotive robotic deployment represented a significant portion of the total robotic deployment across North America.

What are non-automotive robotic deployments??

Non-automotive refers to anything outside of vehicle manufacturing. ?Moving forward, we will see more varieties of robotics applications across more varieties of industries, not just automotive manufacturers.?

I do want to point out at this point that A3 only collects data on traditional industrial robots. ?It doesn’t collect data about autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or collaborative robotic arms. ?If A3 did record data for these types of robots in addition to the traditional industrial arms, the numbers would be even higher!

Why is this growth happening right now?

Because every day, two thousand baby boomers retire from manufacturing jobs across the US.?Every time I think about this statistic, it is shocking.?But it is true, and I see it reflected in my work relationships.?After 10 years serving the manufacturing industry, I look back and realize that most of my early network has retired.?I was the only 20-something working with 50 and 60-somethings, and now nearly all of those early connections have retired.?Sadly, I have come to learn that some have even passed on only a few years after retiring.

One nugget of wisdom stands out: “We all play a role.?I’m on this side of it now, and you are on that side. ?Someday, you will be on this side.?And someone else will be on that side.”

But will there be a “someone else” on that side?

There are fewer and fewer skilled workers to fill in behind the retiring baby boomers.?The jobs are open, but there fewer and fewer human beings to play the role, to be that person on the other side.

There is a labor shortage of skilled workers.?

What this means is that there is both a labor shortage AND an educational skills gap.

2022 was a pivotal year because it helped define the North American path to the solution to both of these challenges.

The solution is utilizing robotics AND training robotics champions.

In 2022, an amazing thing happened to me that I did not anticipate.?Right in the height of demand, there was a call for on-site robotics training and hands-on learning.?I was called on to train technical teams so that they felt comfortable using robotics and industrial automation solutions.?

The following six months were intense and rewarding.?I am so fortunate to work with an incredible team of robotics specialists and application engineers who have the nurturing mindset of teachers.

Robots and Robotics Champions

At Neff Power, we help companies select the right robot for their application.

And we train robotics champions. We offer hands-on learning both in our robotics lab as well as on-site at your manufacturing facility.

We train large and small groups, advanced technicians, as well as new hires and novices to become robotics champions and successfully deploy their first robotics application.?

We want robotics champions to leave our training with the right tools and the right mindset.?We want each robotic champion to be able to successfully operate and maintain their first application, and have the confidence to scale to new applications.?

Neff Power is now part of GCG Automation, and we are excited to share our expertise with you!

Are you looking to add industrial or collaborative robotic arms to your process in 2023??Neff Power helps engineering teams select the right robotic arm for their manufacturing processes. Get in touch: request an engineer discussion with Neff Power.

Are you looking for in-person robotics training for your technical team??Neff Power helps teams of new hires and seasoned technicians become robotics champions for your company. Get in touch: request an engineer discussion with Neff Power.

Resources to learn more and get in touch:

Contact me on this platform, I would love to help you.

You can also request an engineer discussion with Neff Power.

Or you can call (855) 727-6200 and ask about robotics.

And also, subscribe to the Neff Power YouTube Channel because it has lots of videos that show our robotics expertise and capabilities. You'll want to be subscribed so YouTube shows new videos that we upload one to two times per month.

You can send me a message on this platform any time!

Sources Cited:

Dec 21, 2022 — North American companies purchased 35,804 units valued at $1.875 billion in the first nine months of the year, from January to September, 2022. Link.

Dec 22, 2022 – North American robot sales on track for another record year for 2022. Link.

Association of Advancing Automation (A3) Link.