Articulated Robots at the Core of Industrial Transformation

 

The global articulated robot market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the rapid adoption of automation technologies across diverse industries. According to recent market analysis, the industry was valued at USD 17.3 Bn in 2022 and is projected to advance at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2031, reaching an estimated value of USD 38.3 Bn by 2031.

 

Market Overview: Articulated robots, often modeled after human arms, consist of multiple rotary joints that allow complex and precise movements. These industrial robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly, and packaging tasks due to their superior flexibility, speed, and repeatability. Their deployment helps reduce operational costs, increase throughput, and improve safety in high-demand environments.

The growing need for intelligent automation in industries such as automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and 3PL (third-party logistics) is pushing the demand for articulated robotic systems. As global economies transition toward Industry 5.0, the integration of robotics into production lines is no longer a choice but a necessity.

 

Market Drivers & Trends

1. Industrial Automation Surge:
One of the primary drivers of the articulated robot market is the increasing demand for automation to boost productivity and efficiency. Robots are replacing manual processes in repetitive, hazardous, or high-precision tasks, contributing to higher throughput and product consistency.

2. Demand in 3PL and Warehouse Logistics:
Third-party logistics providers are increasingly leveraging articulated robots for picking, palletizing, and sorting tasks. Automation helps optimize warehouse height utilization and improves order accuracy and speed, enabling same-day delivery and omnichannel order fulfillment.

3. Growth in Food & Beverage Industry:
The food & beverage sector is adopting articulated robots for packaging, sorting, and handling, fueled by the need for hygienic, fast, and efficient production systems. The industry’s strict regulatory environment is also accelerating automation.

4. Miniaturization and Precision Robotics:
The trend toward smaller, high-precision robots is gaining momentum. With compact articulated robots like ABB’s IRB 1010, industries such as electronics and wearables manufacturing are incorporating robots to achieve higher output with minimal footprint.

 

Key Players and Industry Leaders

Prominent players in the global articulated robot market include:

• ABB
• FANUC Corporation
• Honeywell International Inc.
• JAKA Robotics
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
• KUKA AG
• Locus Robotics
• Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
• Omron Corporation
• Schneider Electric
• YASKAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
• Zebra Technologies

These companies are focusing on R&D, expanding product portfolios, and forming strategic alliances to gain competitive advantage.

 

Recent Developments

• ABB (Oct 2022): Launched IRB 1010, the smallest articulated robot for smart device manufacturing, offering class-leading payload and precision.
• KUKA AG (May 2022): Secured a contract with Restoration Robotics to supply robots for the ARTAS iX hair restoration system.
• Seiko Epson (2017): Unveiled the N6 and VT6 compact 6-axis robots for increased flexibility in constrained manufacturing spaces.

 

Market Opportunities

• Eastern and Central Europe: Countries like Poland are emerging as manufacturing hubs, offering ample opportunities for robot manufacturers.
• Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Growing demand from SMEs for compact, affordable robots is creating new market segments.
• Healthcare and Medical Robotics: Applications in surgeries, rehabilitation, and pharmacy automation are expanding the use cases for articulated robots.
• AI & Vision System Integration: Opportunities exist in incorporating advanced AI, ML, and vision systems to enhance robot autonomy and responsiveness.

 

Latest Market Trends

• Service Segment Dominance: In 2022, the services segment held 66.9% of the global articulated robot market share, driven by growing demand for maintenance, software upgrades, and real-time system monitoring.
• Integration of IIoT: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is enhancing robotic capabilities, enabling predictive maintenance, remote control, and data-driven decision-making.
• Rise of Collaborative Robots (Cobots): Small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly adopting lightweight articulated robots for safe human-robot collaboration.

 

Future Outlook

The articulated robot market is set to witness accelerated growth due to the evolution of smart factories and digital transformation across sectors. With governments supporting industrial automation through funding and policies (e.g., China's Made in China 2025 initiative), the next decade will witness more widespread deployment of articulated robots in both emerging and developed economies.

 

Market Segmentation

By Offering:

• Hardware
• Software
• Services

By Payload:

• Up to 25 Kg
• 26 Kg to 50 Kg
• 51 Kg to 75 Kg
• 76 Kg to 100 Kg
• 100 Kg to 200 Kg
• Above 200 Kg

By Application:

• Palletizing & Depalletizing
• Loading & Unloading
• Sortation & Storage
• Assembly & Dispensing
• Others (Replenishment, Packaging)

By End-use Industry:

• Food & Beverage
• Automotive
• FMCG
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemical
• Metal & Machinery
• Fashion & Apparel
• Electronics and Semiconductor
• Retail
• 3PL
• Others

 

Regional Insights

North America held the largest share (37.72%) in 2022, led by the U.S., which is spearheading automation in manufacturing and warehousing. High labor costs and rapid adoption of Industry 5.0 technologies are fostering market growth.

Asia Pacific is poised to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period, supported by government initiatives, booming electronics manufacturing, and the expansion of smart warehouses. China, India, South Korea, and ASEAN countries are key contributors.

Europe is witnessing stable growth, with Germany, France, and the U.K. investing heavily in smart manufacturing.

 

Why Buy This Report?

• In-depth cross-segment analysis and market sizing from 2017–2031
• Strategic profiling of key players and emerging entrants
• Analysis of drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends
• Competitive landscape with detailed financials and recent developments
• Insights into regional growth and investment hotspots
• Excel data sheet and visual dashboards for decision-making