President´s Report

Robots, the key to strengthen competiveness and expand employment

Recently, the World Robotics 2011 was published with the headline: All-time-high for industrial robots! What are the reasons for the continued strong demand for industrial robots in all regions?

IFR Statistical Department

World Robotics 2011 Studies were published on 1st September 2011

World Robotics 2011 Industrial Robots and Service Robots were published on 1 September 2011 - two weeks earlier than in 2010. These global reports contain comprehensive data provided by robot suppliers.

IFR: All-time-high for industrial robots

Substantial increase of industrial robot installations is continuing

"Making a future with Robot[1] is a perfect slogan for the worldwide robotics industry today", said Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on the occasion of the publication of the study "World Robotics 2011 - Industrial Robots", on Thursday in Frankfurt. After another substantial rise of 18% in robot sales in 2011 to about 140,000 units - a new peak level - a further increase will resume in the period between 2012 and 2014, about 6% per year on average attaining a level of about 167,000 units in 2014.

Professional service robots - Military systems and milking robots predominate

Continued robust growth between 2011 and 2014

So far, about 77,000 service robots for professional use were sold worldwide, reports the IFR Statistical Department in the new study "World Robotics 2010 - Service Robots", which was published on Tuesday in Frankfurt. The total value of professional service robots sold was about US $13 billion.

Statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers

World Robotics 2011 published

Please read the statements of CEOs of important robot suppliers on the latest robot figures published on 1 September 2011.

IFR Statistical Department webpage got new design

visit www.worldrobotics.org

Have you noticed, when you placed your order for World Robotics 2011, that the Worldrobotics webpage got a new face. We are glad to introdruce the new design of the Worldrobotics website hosted by the IFR Statistical Department to you. 

Standardisation Activities Prepare for Future Safe Human-Robot-Collaboration

Revision of ISO 10218

Standardisation activities in robotics are in the process of meeting the challenge to design the basis for safe human-robot-collaboration. For the first time, standardization for human-robot-collaboration was addressed in ISO 10218-1 (Robots for industrial environments - Safety requirements - Part 1: Robot) in 2006

International Symposium on Robotics ISR 2012

Deadline for Proposals and Abstracts: 10 January 2012

Until 10 January 2012 the ISR 2012 welcomes proposals for organized and invited sessions within the conference scope Intelligent Human-Robot Interaction. The 43rd International Symposium on Robotics (ISR) takes place during the Taipei International Robot Show (TIROS) in Taipei, Taiwan, August 29-31, 2012. 

Robot Manufacturers present Innovations

IFR Members exhibit at iREX 2011 in Tokyo

Theme of this year's International Robot Exhibition (iREX 2011) is "Making a Future with Robot",  with hope for further advances of Robot Technology (RT) for the future. World's leading companies / organizations will exhibit leading-edge robot technologies and products at this exhibition. Some of these exhibitors are IFR Members.

Dürr, Germany - IFR-Partner

Dürr Builds Another Environmentally Friendly Paint Shop for SVW in China

As general contractor, Dürr is building a modern paint shop in Yizheng for SVW Shanghai, the joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and the Chinese SAIC Group (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation).  Thanks to innovative technologies, Yizheng will host one of the most environmentally friendly plants in China.

Schunk, Germany - IFR Partner

Sensitive gripper with integrated Web Server

With the WSG 50, SCHUNK is now able to offer a sensitive gripper that can be controlled via Ethernet TCP/IP in addition to Profibus DP. It also has an integrated Web server for configuration and diagnostics that makes programming, putting it into operation, remote maintenance, and updating, simple.

Panasonic, Germany - IFR Partner

New feature "Weld Navigation" function of the TAWERS technology

Panasonic Robot and Welding Systems Europe present newest function to allow easier and faster welding, as part of the established TAWERS robot systems with integrated welding power source technology. This latest feature, referred to as "Weld Navigation", can be compared to a navigation system in the car.

ABB, UK - IFR-Partner

Trisa brush up on productivity with the aid of ABB robots

ABB robots are playing a key role in helping Swiss toothbrush maker remain competitive in a global market.

Valk Welding, Netherlands - IFR-Partner

Construction builders select welding robot systems from Valk Welding

Valk Welding delivered a welding robot installation at the company Thyssen Stål A/S in Denmark for the welding of steel structures. Using the software module APG (Automatic Program Generation), Thyssen Stål A/S is capable of manufacturing single items to perform with the welding robot.

Dürr, Germany - IFR-Partner

Dürr builds paint shop for Audi in Györ

Dürr is building a paint shop in Hungary for Audi AG. The plant at the Györ location offers the highest quality at low operating and energy costs. The volume of Dürr's share amounts to almost EUR 60 million.

Fraunhofer IPA, Germany - IFR R&D Institute

Service robots in nursing homes

Ease of use, benefits and acceptance of robot assistant "Care-O-bot® 3" tested under real-world conditions Cleaning, doing the washing, preparing and serving meals - these are tasks that many people either don't like doing or, because of growing physical infirmity, are no longer able to do.

TAIROA former ROBOAT, Taiwan - IFR Industry Association

Taiwanese Robotics and Automation Associations merged

ROBOAT (Robotics Association Taiwan) and TSMEA (Taiwan Society of Manufacture Engineering and Automation Technology) are now officially operating as TAIROA (Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association).

RIA, USA - IFR Industry Association

North American Robot Orders Jump 41% in First Half of 2011

Second Quarter is strongest quarter in six years - Fueled by its best quarter in six years, the North American robotics industry jumped 41% in the first half of 2011, according to new statistics released by Robotic Industries Association (RIA).

RIA, USA - IFR Industry Association Member

News and Service Summary

News and offers from RIA to RIA members and non-members. Find out more ...

European Machine Vision Association (EMVA)

European Vision Technology Market Statistics 2011 available

Data from 225 companies in the European machine vision industry have been evaluated for the 2011 edition of the European Machine Vision Association's report.

27-30 Oct, 2011

Robot World 2011

Robot World is one of the biggest international robot shows, which consists of exhibition, contest, and conference all in one. As a growing global exhibition for robot companies around the world, Robot World will be a reliable foundation for robot business growth.

9-12 Nov, 2011

iREX 2011

This show is designed to provide a place to exhibit robots and peripheral equipment in order to enhance market awareness of new technology.

16-18 Nov, 2011

RobotSHOW and HAPexpo 2011

The RobotSHOW and HAPexpo 2011 is Expo Silesia's proposal addressed to companies offering products for the automatics industry, hydraulic and pneumatic elements and systems, electromechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic controllers and robots.