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Robotic density within the manufacturing trade in 2021. | Supply: IFR

China now has extra industrial robots per 10,000 staff than the US, in response to the Worldwide Federation of Robotics (IFR). That is the primary time China has surpassed the US in robotic density. 

In 2021, China averaged 322 industrial robots for each 10,000 staff. In accordance with the IFR, China noticed an enormous soar in robotic installations in 2021. The nation’s industrial robotics market noticed 243,300 installations final 12 months, a 44% enhance from the 12 months earlier than. 

These installations are evident in China’s soar from being tied for the ninth most automated nation worldwide in 2020 to being the fifth most automated nation in 2021, surpassing Chinese language Taipai, the US, Hong Kong and Sweden in robotic density. 

“Robotic density is a key indicator of automation adoption within the manufacturing trade around the globe,” says Marina Invoice, President of the Worldwide Federation of Robotics. “The brand new common of worldwide robotic density within the manufacturing trade surged to 141 robots per 10,000 staff – greater than double the quantity six years in the past. China’s fast progress exhibits the ability of its funding to date, nevertheless it nonetheless has a lot alternative to automate.”

The highest 4 most automated international locations, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Germany, remained the identical from 2020 to 2021. South Korea reached an all-time excessive of 1,000 industrial robots per 10,000 staff. South Korea’s electronics trade and automotive sector each contribute vastly to the nation’s total robotic density. 

Following South Korea is Singapore, with 670 robots per 10,000 staff. Singapore has seen constant progress lately within the variety of industrial robots within the nation. Since 2016, it averaged a 24% enhance in robotic density every year. 

After Singapore, there’s a giant dropoff in density. Japan is available in third, with 399 robots for each 10,000 staff. Whereas Japan is barely the third most automated nation, it’s the prime producer of business robots, in response to the IFR. The nation manufactures 45% of the worldwide provide of business robots. 

Germany is the fourth most automated nation worldwide, with 397 robots for each 10,000 staff, and probably the most automated European nation. 

The USA has dropped from being the seventh most automated nation in 2020, to being the ninth in 2021. Nonetheless, its robotic density grew from 255 robots for each 10,000 staff in 2020, to 274 robots in 2021. 

As a complete, robotic installations hit an all-time excessive in 2021, in response to the IFR. The IFR’s report confirmed that 517,385 new industrial robots had been put in in 2021 in factories around the globe. 

Robotic installations grew by 31% year-over-year in 2021. They exceeded the pre-pandemic document of robotic installations in 2018 by 22%. The inventory of operational robots around the globe additionally hit a brand new document of about 3.5 million items.