Non-auto robotics markets fare better; U.S. 2nd only to Japan.(Brief article)

Staff

Cyclical downturn in robot sales to the North American automotive industry helped reduce first-half 2006 new orders received by North American-based robotics companies by 38%, according to the Robotic Industries Association. RIA also estimates that some 162,000 robots are installed in U.S. factories, placing the U.S. second only to Japan in robot use.

While new orders were down 52% in the automotive industry, sales to non-automotive companies fell only 5%, and showed increases in food and consumer goods, life sciences/pharmaceutical/biomedical, and gen