President’s Report by Marina Bill
World Robotics Report published
Sep 26, 2023 — Today, IFR unveiled its highly anticipated World Robotics 2023 report. The report reveals that 2022 witnessed a remarkable achievement: a record-breaking 553,000 new installations.
Dear Reader,
Today, IFR unveiled its highly anticipated World Robotics 2023 report. The report reveals that 2022 witnessed a remarkable achievement: a record-breaking 553,000 new installations. While this represents seemingly moderate overall growth of 5%, it should be seen in the context of the remarkable 35% surge in 2021, which occurred amidst a challenging global economic environment.
China, by far the world’s largest market, could top its previous record and grow by another 5%, contributing to a staggering 52% of all new installations. Notably, the share of Chinese domestic suppliers has surged from 28% to an impressive 36%.
The trajectory of China's economy holds a pivotal role in shaping the future. While some backlog from 2022 still exists, the IFR Quarterly Survey reports a decline in order intake during the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, the IFR Statistical Department maintains cautious optimism, projecting a 10% growth in China for 2023. The global industrial robot market is also expected to expand by 7%, reaching more than 590,000 units.
These significant findings are presented by our General Secretary at the ISR Europe 2023 event, currently taking place in Stuttgart. This event is a collaborative effort between the University of Stuttgart, VDE, Fraunhofer IPA, VDMA Robotics and Automation, and the IFR.
In other exciting news, the IFR has launched the Go4Robotics campaign in partnership with its members. This campaign, accessible at https://go4robotics.com/, provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other interested parties with a wealth of information in the form of blog articles, whitepapers, checklists, and case studies. These resources aim to help businesses discover the advantages of robotization and address any concerns. We rely on your support to spread the word about this campaign through your personal and corporate social media channels and websites.
We look forward to the next opportunity to connect with IFR members and staff in person, which will be during iREX in Tokyo from November 29 to December 1. We hope to see you there!
Marina Bill
IFR President
