2023, the United States will invest heavily in robotics

Recently, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) released its latest report, saying that as American manufacturers invest heavily in automation, the total installation of industrial robots in the United States will increase by 12% to 44,303 units in 2023. And according to the preliminary results of IFR, the automotive industry is still the industry with the most robot applications, followed by the electrical and electronics industry.

The wave of Industry 4.0 is sweeping across the world, and automation is undoubtedly the key driving force. It is an inevitable trend to use robotics to improve production efficiency, reduce labor costs, and cope with challenges such as labor shortages. This data not only highlights the increasing demand for automation technology among American industrial manufacturers, but also reflects the strategic intention of the United States to upgrade its industrial structure and localize its supply chain.

Automotive industry remains dominant

The report shows that the automotive industry is still the largest area for robot adoption in the United States. In 2023, a total of 14,678 industrial robots were installed, accounting for 33% of the total. Although this share was the same as the previous year, the absolute number hit a new high, and sales also increased by 1%.

As the world's second-largest automobile producer after China, American automakers are facing a dual challenge: on the one hand, they need to keep up with the pace of the electric vehicle revolution and accelerate the transformation and upgrading of new energy vehicles; on the other hand, they also need to deal with the increasingly serious labor shortage problem.

With the advantages of precision, efficiency and reliability, robots can accurately complete tedious and repetitive tasks such as welding, assembly and handling, thereby freeing up human resources and improving production efficiency. At the same time, robots are also very useful in the field of electric vehicle manufacturing, and can accurately complete key links such as battery assembly and wiring harness wiring to ensure the quality and safety of new energy vehicles.

Electrical and electronics performed strongly

IFR said that the installation volume of the electrical and electronics industry increased by 37% to 5,120 units in 2023, accounting for 12% of the market share. It can be foreseen that as the US government spares no effort to promote the localization of high-tech manufacturing industries such as chips, communication equipment, and new energy, the demand for robots in this field will continue to rise.

IFR attributes this growth to the need of US electronics manufacturers to strengthen domestic supply chains and clean energy transformation projects. Faced with the challenges of global supply chain turmoil and renewable energy development, US electronics companies have to accelerate the pace of industrial upgrading, and robotics technology can provide them with efficient and reliable solutions.

Traditional manufacturing automation accelerates

In addition to the automotive and electrical and electronic industries, the installation volume of robots in other traditional US manufacturing industries such as metal, machinery, and chemicals has also increased to varying degrees.

Among them, the metal and machinery manufacturing industry installed a total of 4,123 robots in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 6%, while the chemical and plastics industry added 3,213 robots, an increase of 5%. Although the growth rate is slightly lower than that of emerging fields, the pace of automation in these pillar industries that occupy the lifeblood of the US manufacturing industry is accelerating.

The acceleration of robot layout in traditional manufacturing is closely related to ensuring its core position in the global industrial chain. For example, materials such as steel and nonferrous metals are the cornerstones of the national industrial system. Once they rely on external supply, it will greatly affect national development. The application of robots in metallurgy, forging, welding, packaging and other links can effectively alleviate the domestic labor shortage, improve production efficiency and product quality stability. Similarly, chemical industry, as a pillar industry, is also facing a similar dilemma, and digitalization and intelligence are becoming an important means for it to maintain its global competitiveness.

Canada and Mexico also saw increases

It is worth noting that the IFR also mentioned the growing demand for robotics technology in the manufacturing industries of Canada and Mexico in the report.

Canada's robot installations reached 4,616 units, an increase of 43%. Among them, the automotive industry accounted for 55% of the country's robot installations. In 2023, the automotive industry's sales increased by 99%, and 2,549 robots were installed, which was a record high.

Robot installations in Mexico’s manufacturing sector remain almost unchanged at 5,868 units in 2023, with the country’s main adopter also being the automotive industry, which accounts for 69% of robot installations in 2023.

In general, it is not difficult to find that behind the huge investment of American manufacturers in robots, there are comprehensive demands such as boosting manufacturing, reshaping the industrial chain, countering external risks, and achieving energy transformation. Different industries have introduced robotics technology to improve production efficiency, product quality, and supply chain flexibility. This is not only the self-demand of enterprises to maintain their market position, but also includes the government's strategic considerations.