By March 19, 2015 Read More →

Transition to welding robots inevitable, says report

Welding robotsThe significant improvement in energy efficiency that welding robots bring to the table has spiked market demand in developed economies like North America and Europe. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Global Welding Robotics Fact Book, finds that the market earned revenues of $2.44 billion in 2014 and estimates this to reach $3.38 billion in 2020.

While demand for welding robots from the automotive and transportation industry will be robust, the electronics, heavy machinery and construction industries are also contributing to welding robots market growth.

Click for complimentary access to more information on this research on welding robots

Modernisation needs in the competitive global market and the rising emphasis on energy efficiency are steering industries towards automation. This trend is driving the uptake of welding robots over manual welding methods. Welding robots offer consistency and repeatability, which is vital in user industries.

“Strong demand from industries in Europe will drive the demand for arc and resistance welding robots,” said Frost & Sullivan industrial automation and process control research analyst Guru Mahesh. “The introduction of new materials such as composites and carbon fibres in industrial processes will further widen the scope for use of welding robots, handling robots and cutting robos.”

While welding robots have an established presence in developed economies, lack of awareness among end users and preference for low-cost solutions hinder adoption in Asian countries such as India and China. In addition to the limited understanding of the long-term benefits of welding robots, the availability of cheap manual labour restricts the demand for welding robots in these regions.

“Vendors are working on increasing awareness on the various benefits of welding robots, including higher efficiency, repeatability and reliability,” observed Mahesh. “Conducting training and demonstrations through fairs and workshops will set the ball rolling for large-scale uptake of welding robots across the globe.”

The untapped potential makes markets such as Russia, India, China and Southeast Asia attractive for vendors of welding robotics. Going forward, Middle East and Africa, India and China will be high-growth regions. Asia-Pacific will see increased demand for welding robots from non-automotive industries such as metals, machinery and electricals and electronics.

Visit the Frost & Sullivan website for more information on the Global Welding Robots Fact Book.

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