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Robotics is growing across sectors in Australia, finds a recent report. Source: HowToRobot
As demand for commercial robots continues to grow worldwide, so too are the innovation and vendor communities to serve them. A new report from HowToRobot.com and Robotics Australia Group found 466 robotics and automation suppliers in Australia’s fast-growing sector.
“Many societies struggle with labor shortages and aging populations and need robots and automation to maintain living standards,” stated Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot. “They will count on robots to automate not only factories, but also many other sectors, where Australia has a strong focus.”
As a global marketplace, HowToRobot said it connects buyers with its growing network of robotics and automation suppliers. The Chicago-based company added that its digital tools, market insights, and guides are intended to help businesses understand their needs and find the right systems.
Australia has a mix of factory and field robots
Australian robotics companies have specialized in automation for both factory and field, including sectors not traditionally served by robotics companies in other markets, according to the market report. These sectors include mining, which 29% of Australian robotics companies serve, it said.
Twenty percent of Australian companies support the construction industry, and 19% serve the agriculture and forestry sectors, said HowToRobot and Robotics Australia Group.
“As a country with vast geography and few people, we have developed a special expertise in field robotics, which can operate in challenging, unstructured environments,” said Dr. Sue Keay, chair of Robotics Australia Group. She is the sister of Andra Keay, managing director of Silicon Valley Robotics.
Examples of field robotics include swarms of robots used in agriculture, underwater robots for offshore inspection, and mobile robots for inspecting outdoor areas that are difficult to access. The report noted that robotics countries in Australia focus on automating tasks across industries, such as handling and picking items, covered by 51% of robotics suppliers.
In addition, 37% of suppliers support inspection and quality control, 33% automate logistics and storage functions, and 28% provide robots for packing and palletizing, said the report.
Australia has a robot density, or number of robots per 10,000 workers, of 134 units, according to the 2021 World Robot Report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). That was higher than the European average of 123 units but lower than that of the top countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Germany, and Sweden, as well as that of the U.S. at 255 or China at 246.
HowToRobot, Robotics Australia Group co-produce report
HowToRobot partnered with Robotics Australia Group to conduct research and produce the “2023 Market Overview of Robot and Automation Companies in Australia.”
Robotics Australia Group is an incorporated not-for-profit organization intended to act as “the voice for robotics in Australia.” The organization said its mission is to facilitate the growth of a sustainable and internationally competitive national robotics industry.
The report also found that out of Australia’s 466 robotics suppliers, 57% are integrators, 19% manufacture robots or drones, and 15% supply components. Seven percent are distributors, and 3% count as advisors.
In addition to the robotics industry itself, 47% of suppliers serve metals and machinery, 42% support logistics, and 30% supply the food and beverage industry.
The report said that non-manufacturing industries also received a strong robotics focus in Australia. In addition to mining and construction, 24% of suppliers provide robots for the energy sector, and 17% supply the recycling industry.
Study intended to support robotics growth
The effort to map robotics providers in Australia can help break down barriers to robot adoption, said Peters.
“A growing number of businesses need automation but often struggle with getting started,” he observed. “Where do you find the right solution and business to provide it if you don’t know where to look?”
“Providing an overview of the industry is a first step towards bringing our global marketplace to Australia and making it easier for businesses to find the right robotics and automation providers,” Peters added.
The industry overview is not only useful for businesses dealing directly with the robotics industry, but it can also help build a better public understanding of robotics in Australia in a timely way, said Keay. In May, the Australian government established a committee and published a discussion paper proposing a national robotics strategy.
“Robotics is on the public agenda like never before with the upcoming national robotics strategy,” she said. “Knowing who our robotics providers are helps us understand the key strengths of the industry to build on.”
The full report contains more information about the market for robotics and automation in Australia, including statistics on robotics companies and a complete data sheet containing every supplier identified in the research. It is available at HowToRobot.com.
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