Report looks at advances in robots for manufacturing
Robotics in manufacturing has evolved from the days of rigidly programmed robot arms on automotive production lines. Robot models are diversifying, widening applications for industrial automation are changing with improvements in perception, autonomy, and actuation.
In addition, widespread shortages of skilled labor are driving demand in diverse sectors, ranging from electronics and metals to food and beverage and pharmaceuticals.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, industrial robot installations doubled in the decade that ended in 2024. The organization has also recorded increasing robot density, or the number of robots per 10,000 workers. The global leaders are South Korea, Singapore, Germany, and Japan, where workforces are aging.
At the same time, the rise of force- and power-limited or collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, and physical AI is enabling factories to automate more tasks. Cobots, mobile manipulators, and humanoids promise new levels of flexibility in operations and spaces designed around humans. While interest in humanoids is high, they are just beginning commercial trials, and other form factors are already available.
Identifying the right applications and tools, plus fully integrating them and ensuring a return on investment, remain challenging.
In the first half of 2026, robot order value increased by 6.6% year over year, according to the Association for Advancing Automation. It noted that increasing orders in non-automotive sectors have offset slowdowns among automotive OEMs.
The Robot Report covers the growing use of robots in workflows such as material handling, assembly, welding, machine tending, and finishing. Developers, vendors, and integrators offer improved efficiency and safety.
This free download includes conversations with multiple experts at leading companies about the following:
- How robotics can help scarce workers rather than replace them
- Recent progress in sensing and manipulation
- How automation can promote reshoring and national security
- Examples of recent collaborations and deployments
- The potential for humanoids and AI in manufacturing
Read about how facilities and supply chains can modernize and enhance their competitiveness with the latest robots, software, and AI.
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