Number of Robots Operating in U.S. Factories Hits Record 310,700, IFR Reports

According to the World Robotics 2021 report released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) on October 28, 2021, the number of industrial robots operating in U.S. factories reached a record of about 310,700, up 6% from the previous year. New sales fell 8% in 2020, marking a second consecutive annual decline after eight straight years of growth.

For manufacturing professionals tracking production equipment and automation plans for the U.S. market, the number of industrial robots in operation reached a record even as new sales declined in 2020, showing that the installed base and the pace of new deployments are not moving in tandem. Trends also varied by industry: numbers increased in electrical and electronics, while the automotive sector saw a sharp decline. This offers a basis for assessing how adoption differs across sectors within the U.S. market.