Asia is expected to become the largest market for collaborative robots in 4-5 years, according to Jurgen von Hollen, president for Denmark-based Universal Robots (UR).
Demand for collaborative robots in Asia is growing faster than the global average, but in North Amreirca and Europe, the growths are lower, Hollen said at Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition, which runs from August 1-4.
Demand for industrial robots in Asia in 2017 grew 37% on year, with demand in China and Taiwan increasing 58% and 44% respectively. The automobile, electronics, electric machinery and metal working sectors showed wide adoption of industrial robots.
While big manufacturers usually can afford to invest in production automation, UR aims to boost adoption of inexpensive and easily-operable collaborative robots to help small- to medium-size manufacturers upgrade to automate production at lower cost.
Demand for collaborative robots is taking off, but many clients in Asia Pacific lack understanding of collaborative robots enough and face challenges from insufficient safety regulations for using them, said Tsuyoshi Yamane, North East Asia general manager for UR.
UR has a global market share of 50-60% for collaborative robots and expects revenues of US$255 million for 2018, Hollen said. UR produces collaborative robots in Denmark only. To cope with fast growing global demand, it plans to build an overseas factory, and the location will be determined by factors concerning customs duty and logistics cost instead of labor cost, Hollen indicated.
Universal Robots president Jurgen von Hollen
Photo: Michael Lee, Digitimes, August 2018
Article translated by Adam Hwang
