The robotics industry is experiencing a period of strong growth, we are witnessing a boom in requests all over the world. The strong demand concerns different sectors, from the medical one to the logistic one, up to the domestic one. Trade in professional robots increased by 32% to 11.2 billion dollars in 2018-2019.
Let’s see in detail the relative numbers. For what concerns the logistics sector, the demand for robotics has increased and consequently the market value as well, which has reached 1.9 billion dollars, for a growth of 110%. The effect of the pandemic has also reduced the supply of labour in the agricultural world and this has led to a greater demand for agricultural robotics which has reached 1.3 billion dollars (+ 3%).
Domestic robotics also received more demand, sales increased by 34% with a total of 23.2 million units (products such as vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, entertainment robots) purchased last year. The sales value reached 5.7 billion dollars (+ 20%).
However, the biggest demands have come from the medical sector. There has been a 28% increase in the spread of medical-surgical robotic devices globally, this is equivalent to 5.3 billion dollars. In 2019, the sale of robotic equipment for the medical sector represented 47% of total revenue. It is estimated that in 2022, sales could reach a total of 11.3 billion dollars.
Another area that has increased its purchases is that of robotic equipment for people with disabilities and for the elderly. Total sales are worth 91 million dollars, up 17%.
Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics, said: ” We expect sales of both professional and personal service robots will continue to increase strongly”.
Perhaps the moment when we will have to get used to working side by side with robots is not so far away.