Feb 3 2011
The British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) has mentioned that when compared with the 2009 robot sales in the UK, the 2010 sales has been increased to 65%. Sales of robotic systems in the UK has been declining every year since 2005 but 2010 has showcased an uptrend in UK robot sales.
The 2010 robot sales survey performed by BARA includes 40 automation and robotics firms as well as leading UK robot distributors. The report has indicated that the augmentation in robot sales was higher than the predictions made by industrial experts.
Mike Wilson, President of BARA, has stated that the 2010 robot sales report has revealed a positive trend for automation and robotics segments. He mentioned that the report has shown a downtrend in automation sales last year. In 2006, automation segment experienced 48% of sales whereas 2010 featured only 35% of sales. But sales of automation systems in food, pharmaceutical and aerospace segments have significantly increased.
Wilson has stated that when judged against the 2006 UK sales figures, the sales of food and drink segment has increased by 228%, medical industry is up by 263% and aerospace industry has showed 644% increase in sales. He added that the increase in awareness of robotic products is the reason behind the enhanced sales figures in these segments.
BARA has reported that the growth segments comprises only leading firms and the survey may depict that automation awareness of SMEs is comparatively less. Hence BARA has decided to organize an awareness program from March by conducting road shows in the UK. The program has been designed based on suggestions made in the recent Application of Automation in UK Manufacturing Industry study. The study is focused on identifying the reasons behind the lag in including automation and to identify methods of improvement.
Wilson concluded that their initiatives will offer superior information source to companies and will enable them to avoid obstacles that restrain them from adopting automation.
Source: http://www.bara.org.uk