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The global robot industry is booming, China's demand is driving robot production
Japanese media has highlighted the unprecedented growth of the global robotics industry. With aging populations and labor shortages, Japan is not the only country experiencing a surge in automation demand. Emerging economies are also witnessing rising labor costs, which are fueling the need for robotic solutions. From major robot manufacturers to component suppliers, companies are ramping up production to meet this growing demand.
According to a report by the "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" on January 26, the Japanese robotics sector showed strong performance. Data from the Japan Robotics Industry Association revealed that shipments of industrial robots in the July-September 2017 period increased by 33.9% year-on-year, reaching 195.9 billion yen (approximately $1.8 billion). This marked a significant milestone for the industry.
At the start of 2017, the Japanese Robotics Industry Association had predicted a 7% increase in annual industrial robot production, aiming for a record of 750 billion yen. However, the actual growth far exceeded these expectations. If current trends continue and non-member companies are included, the total could surpass 800 billion yen.
To meet the rising demand, leading robotics firms are expanding their manufacturing capabilities. FANUC, the world’s largest industrial robot company, invested around 6.3 billion yen to build a new factory in Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture. The facility will have a monthly capacity of 4,000 units, and once fully operational, FANUC’s production capacity is expected to triple, reaching 11,000 units per month.
Swiss firm ABB, another top player in the industry, is also scaling up. It plans to more than double its industrial robot production capacity within the next one or two years.
Meanwhile, component manufacturers are also stepping up their efforts. Hamernaco, a major producer of precision reducers, is building a new plant to boost domestic production from over 80,000 units to 200,000 units by 2020.
The strong demand for robots can be attributed in part to China's role. As labor costs rise and manpower becomes scarce, the Chinese government launched the “Made in China 2025†initiative to promote industrial upgrading and encourage the adoption of robotics. This has driven demand, particularly in sectors like electronics manufacturing.
To capture this market, major robotics companies are expanding their presence in China. German company KUKA, now owned by Midea Group, has built two new plants in the country, aiming to increase its local production capacity fourfold by the end of 2019. Mitsubishi Electric began producing industrial robots in China in June 2018, with plans to boost overall production capacity to 1.5 times that of 2016.
As demand grows, more user-friendly and intelligent robots are becoming popular. Companies are developing collaborative robots that can work alongside humans, integrating artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and flexibility. The robotics industry shows great potential for future development and may significantly reshape Japan's industrial landscape.
[Image: Japanese media: Chinese demand brings prosperity to the global robot industry or dramatically changes the structure of the Japanese industry]
[Caption: A fire-fighting robot displayed at the International Robot Show in Luoyang in May 2017.]