Nation's industrial robotics market sees rapid growth

SHANGHAI - A top industry body says that China is the fastest-growing market for the use of industrial robotics. It is also the market with the most potential, according to an executive of the Swedish power and automation technology company ABB Group.

"We expect China's application of robotics to grow by at least high double-digits this year, providing the opportunity for our robotics business to register close to triple-digit growth by the year end," said Gu Chunyuan, head of ABB China's robotics business unit.

The application of robotics in Chinese industry has grown rapidly over recent years as a result of the country's efforts to improve efficiency of its manufacturing processes.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) said recently that in 2010 the growth rate for the application of robotics in China was 171 percent higher than in 2009, and that the country is the fastest-growing market in the world.

However, in 2010, China's applications numbered 52,290 units, less than 20 percent of Japan's 285,800, and 35 percent lower than Germany's 148,195.

The IFR predicts that the use of robotics applications globally will increase by between 10 and 15 percent in 2011, with the major demand coming from China and other emerging Asian markets.

The federation also said that industrial robotics applications in China will increase by 64 percent in 2012.

"We also believe the sector will continue its high-speed development in the coming years, because of Chinese concerns about the surging cost of labor, and manufacturing safety and efficiency," said Gu.

"The demand will not only come from the ventures of our long-term multinational partners in China, but also from Chinese manufacturers who are ambitious to compete with their foreign rivals."