Factory Runs By Robots to Make Robots

Swiss robotics company ABB has revealed that it’s spending US$150 million to build an advanced robotics factory in Shanghai — one that will use robots to build robots. The company will rely on its YuMi single-arm robots, which it once used to conduct an orchestra, for small parts assembly. It also plans to make extensive use”of its SafeMove2 software in the facility, which it says will allow its YuMi models and other automated machines to safely work in close proximity with human employees.

ABB says its goal is to make the Shanghai facility the most advanced robotics factory in the world. It will even feature a Research and Development center to accelerate the firm’s work in artificial intelligence. In addition, it will widen the types and variants of robots the company can build for Chinese companies, including automakers and electronics manufacturers. China is ABB’s second biggest market after the United States, and the new factory could greatly expand its presence in the market. The company expects to open the 75,000-square-foot facility by late 2020.

The Status of World’s Robots Population

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) 2018 Report, there are three types of robots;

1. Industrial Robots
2. Professional service robots, and
3. Personal/domestic services robots

The IFR 2018 reports noted key drivers for robots, and they include:

• Shift to high mix/low volume production
• Global competitiveness
• Digitalization of manufacturing-Industry 4.0.
• Growing consumer market
• Energy efficiency-driven technology shift
• Regionalized production

Industrial Robots

In 2017, China was the biggest supplier of industrial robots with 138,00 units followed by Japan at 46,000 units. The main customers of industrial robots are the automotive industry and the electrical and electronic industry. However, China was lower in the ranking in the number of installed robots per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry in 2017, as shown below:

	Country	Installed robots
1	Korea	710
2	Singapore	658
3	Germany	322
4	Japan	308
5	Sweden	240
6	Denmark	230
7	US	200
8	Taiwan	197
9	Belgium	192
10	Italy	190
11	Netherlands	172
12	Austria	167
13	Canada	161
14	Spain	157
15	Slovakia	151
16	Slovenia	144
17	Finland	139
18	France	137
19	Switzerland	129
20	Czech Republic	119
21	China	97

 

In 2017, there were 2,098,00 industrial robots in world’s factories as compared to 1,632,000 in 2015.

Professional Services Robots

According to IFR 2018 Report, there were sales of US$6.6 billion of professional service robots in 2017, representing 109,500 units. The main applications were in the logistics, medical, field and defence sectors. AGVs were used in factories, warehouses, logistics centres and hospitals. Medical robots are most valuable with 2,900 units representing sales of US$1.9 billion in 2017. Field robots are mainly milking robots.

Personal/Domestic Service Robots

Vacuuming and floor cleaning robots are mostly established personal/domestic robots. In 2017, there were 1,200,000 household robots and 400,000 entertainment and leisure robots.

 Please find a snapshot of the robotic industry in the report below.

WR_Presentation_Industry_and_Service_Robots_18_Oct_2018