While not quite as dramatic as Hollywood movies such as “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” or “I, Robot,” make no mistake that the robot age is coming and it’s coming fast — especially in US manufacturing.
Manufacturers will significantly accelerate the use of automation over the next decade as robots become cheaper and perform more tasks, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) (bcg.com). Currently about 10 percent of all manufacturing functions are automated, reports BCG, but the company estimates that this will rise to 25 percent in the US within a decade, as vision systems, gripping devices, and other relevant technologies continue to improve.
BCG says spending on robots worldwide is expected to more than quadruple — from just over $15 billion in 2010 to about $67 billion by 2025, a 10.4 percent compound annual growth rate. The largest growth area will be the industrial segment, where robots are used in applications such as welding, assembly, painting, and material handling. This area will grow at a compound growth rate of 10.1 percent — from $5.8 billion to $24.4 billion.
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