The 2022 Munich International Robotics and Automation Technology Expo will be held in Munich, Germany from June 21st to 24th. About 600 exhibitors showcased the latest trends in the development of the robotics and automation industry. In addition to well-known trend themes such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence and human-computer interface, at this exhibition also added the trend theme of sustainable production.
At this exhibition, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) released a statistical report on the robot and automation industry. Statistics show that global robot sales hit a new record of 486,800 units in 2021, an increase of 27% over the previous year. Among them, Asia and Australia had the largest growth rate, reaching 33%, totaling 354,500 units. Americas grew 27% to 49,400 units. Europe grew by 15% to 78,000 units. Statistics also show that there is strong demand for robots in various industries. The main growth driver last year was the electronics industry, which grew by 21% to 132,000 units, surpassing the 109,000 units in the automotive industry and becoming the largest customer of industrial robots. The metal and machinery industry has 57,000 units, the plastics and chemicals industry has 22,500 units, and the food and beverage industry has 15,300 units.
Milton Gerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics, said: "There is a strong recovery in robot installations around the world, making 2021 the most successful year ever for the robotics industry." "Due to the development trend of automation and continuous technological innovation, the demand for the use of robots in various industries has reached a very high level."
Frank Conrad, chairman of the German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Federation, predicts that the sales of the German robot and automation industry this year will be The growth rate will be 6%. The Robotics and Automation Association (VDMA) has brought a more optimistic forecast. The industry growth rate of this year is 10%, with industry revenue of about 14.7 billion euros, thus reaching the pre-crisis level in 2019.
At this exhibition, exhibitors and visitors can pay attention to innovative technologies and products on well-known trend themes such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence and human-computer interface. The theme of sustainable production is a newly added key theme, mainly in response to the EU's trend in dealing with climate change, that is, the EU's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. There are a large number of relevant exhibitors who will demonstrate how automation and robotics can achieve solutions in aspects such as sustainability. For example, BMW uses an electric grab system, which reduces energy consumption by more than 90% compared with pneumatic systems. This also heralds the efficiency improvements and resource saving advantages that automation and robotic systems can bring:
- l Robots and automatic guidance systems in smart factories can take over all process steps with high flexibility;
- l Older models of robots may benefit from automation upgrades Second deployment;
- l Saving energy with each short-distance move through lightweight design can reduce the complexity of components such as linear axes, robots, grippers, and tools;
- l The use of energy-efficient drive forms for the gripping system;
- l "Digital Energy Gemini" enables the identification and further optimization of production equipment during the development phase of energy use.
The Munich International Robot and Automation Technology Expo has been held every two years since 2004, gathering the latest technologies, equipment and products in the global robotics industry and related industrial automation and other fields.
