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Introduction to robotics industry
| The robotics industry has come a long way since General Motors installed the world's first robot on the production line in 1962. In the following decades many installations in the automotive industry followed and due to new technologies, growing capabilities and falling prices new fields of application were added as well. Nowadays, (large-scale) production without the help of robots is almost unthinkable. The use of robots in production optimises efficiency as well as quality and helps to limit the workers exposure to hazardous environments. Automation is of particular strategic importance for Europe; it is through its application that manufacturing remains competitive in higher wage regions of the world. |  |
| Arc welding robot |
European robotics industry
| Over the past years, the European robotics industry has gradually reduced its dependence on the automotive industry and its subcontractors and has systematically opened up and expaned new fields of application for robots (e.g. rubber and plastics industry, metal and machine industry, electronics, food and beverage). The main applications are handling, welding and dispensing (more than 70% of the robots are used for handling and welding!). Both, the automotive industry as well as the non-automotive sectors have made large investments to optimize their production processes. In 2008, 35,000 industrial robots were sold in Europe - which is more than a third of the worldwide sales. However, the global financial and economic crisis at the end of 2008 put a halt to the industrial and economic growth and in 2009 the sales dropped to approx. 22,000 units. The picture for 2010 and beyond is a rosier one. The sales have already started to rise again in the first half of 2010 and a full recovery is expected by the end of 2010 with sales of 34,000 units. |
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Quicklinks
Highlights
European Robotics Week 2013 from 25 Nov. to 1 Dec.
European Robotics Week 2013 from 25 Nov. to 1 Dec.
Save the dates 2013:
- EUnited Robotics Members' Assembly - 07 May 2013 (members & cooperations partners)
- EUnited Robotics Members' Assembly - 06 Nov. 2013 (members & cooperation partners)
- EUnited Dinner Debate - 05 Nov. 2013 (invitation only)
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| Sept. 2012 - Founding of euRobotics aisbl |
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| Sept. 2012 - MoU Signing Event |
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| World Robotics 2012 Now on Sale |
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| European Robotics Forum 2013, Lyon, France European Robotics Forum 2012, Odense, Denmark |