Robotic welding expected to reach $3.38bn by 2020

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, titled Global Welding Robotics Fact Book, finds that the market earned revenues of $2.44bn in 2014 and estimates this to reach $3.38bn in 2020. The significant improvement in energy efficiency that robotic welding brings to the table has spiked market demand in developed economies like North America and Europe.

“Strong demand from industries in Europe will drive the demand for arc and resistance welding robots,” said Guru Mahesh, Industrial Automation and Process Control Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “The introduction of new materials such as composites and carbon fibres in industrial processes will further widen the scope for use of robots in handling, cutting and welding."

While welding robotics have an established presence in developed economies, lack of awareness among end users and preference for low-cost solutions hinder adoption in Asian countries such as India and China. In addition to the limited understanding of the long-term benefits of these solutions, the availability of cheap manual labour restricts the demand for welding robotics in these regions.

“Vendors are working on increasing awareness on the various benefits of welding robots, including higher efficiency, repeatability and reliability,” observed Mahesh. “Conducting training and demonstrations through fairs and workshops will set the ball rolling for large-scale uptake of robotic welding across the globe.”

The untapped potential makes markets such as Russia, India, China and Southeast Asia attractive for vendors of welding robotics. Going forward, Middle East, Africa, India and China will be high-growth regions. Asia-Pacific will see increased demand from non-automotive industries such as metals, machinery, electricals and electronics.