The Spread of Covid-19 Led to a Surge in Orders for Factory Robots
- Demand rises as companies seek to avoid danger for employees
- Improved technologies help fuel purchases beyond auto industry
A robot assembles a power tool in Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Orders for robots soared in North America at year-end as manufacturers attempted to grapple with the rising toll of Covid-19 and avoid putting employees at risk.
Companies ordered 9,972 robots in the fourth quarter, up 64% from a year earlier. That lifted the annual total to 31,044 units, up 3.5%, the Association for Advancing Automation reported Thursday. And for the first time, automakers didn’t lead demand.