The robot stats are out. Every quarter, the
Robotics Industries Association (RIA) releases a robot sales report. The latest installment covers the first nine months of 2007.
According to the RIA, robot sales in North America are up 33% since last year - generating 21% more in revenue. These 12,763 robots represent $844.5 million. When orders from international companies were factored in, North American companies showed a unit increase of 34%, and 22% in returns.
The automotive industry continued as the strongest influence. Fifty-eight percent more robots were sold compared to 2006. Within the non-automotive sphere, the biggest increase in robot sales was in the medical/pharmaceutical and science industries (20%), followed by increases in food and consumer products (15%).
