components Top five
components Top five global robotics trends 2025 The global market value of industrial robot installations has reached an all-time high of US$ 16.5 billion. Future demand will be driven by a number of technological innovations, market forces and new fields of business. The International Federation of Robotics reports on the top five trends for the robotics industry for 2025. 1 Artificial intelligence – physical, analytical, generative The trend towards artificial intelligence in robotics is growing. By leveraging diverse AI technologies, robotics can perform a wide range of tasks more efficiently: Analytical AI enables robots to process and analyze large amounts of data collected by their sensors. This helps to manage variability and unpredictability in the external environment, in high mix/low-volume production as well as in public environments. Robots equipped with vision systems, for example, analyze past tasks to identify patterns and optimize their operations for greater accuracy and speed. Robot and chip manufacturers are investing recently in the development of dedicated hardware and software that simulate real-world environments. This so-called physical AI allows robots to train themselves in virtual environments and operate by experience, rather than programming. These generative AI projects aim to create a “ChatGPT moment” for physical AI. This AI-driven robotics simulation technology will advance in traditional industrial environments as well as in service robotics applications. 2 Humanoids Robots in the shape of human bodies have received a lot of media attention. The vision: robots will become general-purpose tools that can load a dishwasher on their own and work on an assembly line elsewhere. Start-ups are working on these humanoid general-purpose robots. Yet, industrial manufacturers are focusing on humanoids performing single-purpose tasks only. Most of these projects are being carried out in the automotive industry, which has played a key role in pioneering robot applications throughout the history of industrial robotics, as well as in the warehousing sector. From today's perspective, however, it remains to be seen whether humanoid robots can represent an economically viable and scalable business case for industrial applications, especially when compared to existing solutions. Nevertheless, there are many applications that could inherently benefit from the humanoid form and therefore offer market potential for robotics e.g. in logistics and warehousing. 3 Sustainability – energy efficiency Compliance with the UN’s environmental sustainability goals and corresponding regulations around the world is becoming an important requirement for inclusion on supplier whitelists. Robots play a key role in helping manufacturers achieve these goals. In general their ability to perform tasks with high precision reduces material waste and improves the output-input ratio of a manufacturing process. These automated systems ensure consistent quality which is essential for products designed to have long lifespans and minimal maintenance. In the production of green energy technologies such as solar panels, batteries for electric cars or recycling equipment, robots are critical to cost-effective production, allowing manufacturers to rapidly scale up production to meet growing demand without compromising quality or sustainability. At the same time robot technology is being improved to make the robots themselves more energy-efficient. For example the lightweight construction of moving robot components reduces their energy consumption. Different levels of sleep mode put the hardware in an energy saving parking position. Advances in gripper technology use bionics to achieve high grip strength with almost no energy consumption. 4 Robots – new fields of business The general manufacturing industry still has a lot of potential for robotic automation. Most manufacturing companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The adoption of industrial robots is still hampered by high initial investment and total costs. Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) business models allow enterprises to benefit from robotic automation with no fixed capital involved. RaaS providers specializing in specific industries or applications can offer sophisticated solutions quickly. In addition low-cost robotics offers solutions for potential customers that find a high-performance robot to be oversized for their needs. Many applications have low requirements in terms of precision, payload, and service life. Low-cost robotics addresses this new “good enough” segment. 46 no. 2, May 2025
components Interesting new customer segments beyond manufacturing include construction, laboratory automation and warehousing. Demand across all industries is being driven by the fact that recent crises have led to political awareness of domestic production capacity in strategically important branches. Automation allows manufacturers to nearshore production without sacrificing cost efficiency. 5 Robots addressing labor shortage The global manufacturing sector continues to suffer from labor shortages according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). One of the main drivers is demographic change, which is already burdening labor markets in leading economies such as the United States, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea or Germany. Although the impact varies from country to country, the cumulative effect on the supply chain is, almost everywhere an issu. The use of robotics significantly reduces the impact of labor shortages in manufacturing. By automating dirty, dull, dangerous or delicate tasks, human workers can focus on more interesting and higher-value tasks. Robots perform tedious tasks such as visual quality inspection, hazardous painting or heavy lifting. Technological innovations in robotics such as ease of use, collaborative robots or mobile manipulators help to fill gaps when and where needed. further information: www.ifr.org “Ultra” in every aspect FOBA Laser Marking + Engraving, a leading provider of innovative laser marking solutions, will be exhibiting at the upcoming EASTEC 2025, the premier manufacturing trade show on the East Coast. The event will take place from May 13-15, 2025, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. EASTEC is the largest manufacturing trade show in the Northeast, providing a platform for industry professionals to explore the latest technologies, network with experts and discover innovative solutions to manufacturing challenges. FOBA will present its F.0100-ir ultrashort pulse laser, a stateof- the-art marking system designed to deliver ultra-black, corrosion-resistant markings on a variety of materials, including stainless steel, titanium and plastics. This advanced laser system is set to revolutionize the industry with its unparalleled precision, speed and compact design. The F.0100-ir produces deep black, permanent markings that are non-reflective and corrosion-resistant, even after Copper plate marked with the ultrashort pulse laser Laser Marking Station M3000 with vision inspection for economic direct part marking and reliable product traceability further processing steps such as passivation. “With its adjustable pulse width between the femtosecond and picosecond range, the F.0100-ir ensures minimal heat input, making it ideal for marking heat-sensitive materials without causing dam age”, explains Philipp Febel, director product management, marketing and R&D. Capable of marking various metals and plastics at high speed, the F.0100-ir maintains excellent marking quality, increasing throughput by up to four times. One of the smallest ultrashort pulse marking systems on the market, the F.0100-ir can be easily integrated into production lines and FOBA’s M3000 laser marking machine. FOBA invites all attendees to experience live demonstrations of the F.0100-ir ultrashort pulse laser and learn how this revolutionary technology can enhance manufacturing processes. FOBA’s experts will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the benefits of integrating lasermarking into various applications, including electronics industries, automotive and medical technology. further information: www.fobalaser.com no. 2, May 2025 47
