Sales of robots rise to an all-time high

Sales of robots for the first two quarters of 2012 have exceeded all previous full year sales. In the first quarter, sales of 923 units were recorded which is larger than the annual total for many previous years.

The second quarter brought this figure to 2000 for the half year end.

Automotive and automotive component orders contributed 85% of this figure in the first quarter and 89% in the second. While in most other sectors robot sales are growing, growth is sluggish and, in some sectors, is in sporadic decline.

The government's drive to automate UK manufacturing is going extremely well according to Grant Collier, head of marketing for the PPMA Group of Associations managing the programme: "Over 220 manufacturers have taken up the Government funded Automating Manufacturing Programme which shows manufacturers how they can benefit from automation." Application for an automation review is easy and takes just a couple of minutes. The form and further details can be found at: www.automatingmanufacturing.co.uk.