With the strongest first-quarter results on record, robotics companies in North America received a record high number of orders in the first quarter of 2017. The Robotics Industries Association reported quarterly orders of 9,773 robots worth approximately $516 million, an increase in unit orders of 32% for the same quarter of prior year which was also record setting.
Revenue order grew 28% for the same period year to year, while units shipped to North American customers reached 8,824 robots, totaling $494 million. These increases were due in large part to significant growth in automotive related industries.
Furthermore, the surge in sales was reflected in the rise in attendance at automation and robotics industry events. Automate 2017, held at the beginning of April, had over 20,000 in attendance, and included over 400 exhibitors. These numbers represent a 37% increase in attendees, according to the President of the Robotic Industries Association, Jeff Burnstein.
“The automation industry continues to grow robustly as companies invest to increase productivity and boost competitiveness while also providing opportunities for workers,” Burnstein continued. “We are excited to hear about the new jobs being created and how companies such as Amazon, GM, and others are training and retraining their workforce to enable them to embrace these higher skilled jobs.”
