North American robot sales in the first nine months of 2022 reached record levels, with all indications pointing to 2022 ending with the highest number of robots sold in a year for the second year in a row. According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), from January to September 2022, North American companies purchased 35,804 units valued at $1.875 billion, up 24% for units ordered and 27% for revenue over the same period in 2021.
“Ongoing labor shortages, easier-to-use robotic solutions and new industries embracing robotics, such as restaurants, retail, construction and even agriculture, have led to record units sold here in North America this year,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “Investing in automation is increasingly seen as a necessary step for performing many of the difficult-to-staff tasks that are necessary to compete today, and we see 2022 ending on another record high.”
In Q3 2022 alone, North American companies ordered 11,901 robots valued at $626 million, up 20% and 22% respectively over the third quarter of 2021. This is the second highest quarter ever, after Q2 2022. Similar to Q2 2022, automotive-related customers ordered more robots in the third quarter of 2022 than non-automotive customers, with 55% of units going to the automotive industry and 45% going elsewhere. On the non-automotive side, the semiconductor/electronics (44%), life sciences (33%) and food/consumer goods (1%) industries ordered more robots than the same quarter last year.
“As we’ll see at tradeshows like Automate, Innovative companies around the world are emerging with automation solutions for tasks such as drywall finishing, shelf-scanning, food preparation and service, fruit picking, hospital delivery and more,” Burnstein added. “While interest in robots might fluctuate during any quarter in any given industry, the steadily increasing numbers shows the value more industries see in investing in automation.”
