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Robotics orders up 5.2%

North American companies have ordered $1.3 billion worth of robotics through the third quarter, association says.

North American companies ordered nearly 24,000 robotic units, valued at $1.3 billion, through the third quarter of this year, a 5.2% increase over the year-ago period, according to data from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) released this week.

Orders in the third quarter only were up just 1% compared to 2018, the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based trade association said. But officials said the year-to-date results reflect solid improvement after the sector saw a roughly 15% decline in robotic orders last year. 


"We're seeing improvement in the robotics market," RIA President Jeff Burnstein said.  "Last year saw a dip in orders of around 15%, so it's encouraging to see a recovery through the third quarter.  We hope to end the year strong and see growth in 2020 as well."  

Auto makers are driving the increase, posting a 47% rise in robotics orders through September. Rubber and plastics industries posted a 15% increase, and food and consumer industries have ordered 4% more robots so far this year. Burnstein also said that orders from non-automotive customers remain near record numbers, "a healthy sign for the long-term growth of the robotics industry."

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