Robotics, automation, and photonics industries see growth in Germany

Two recent reports released by the VDMA show that the robotics and automation industries, as well as the photonics industry, saw positive growth in 2014 and that trend is expected to continue in 2015.

On June 11, the VDMA Robotics + Automation group issued a press release that indicated the German robotics and automation sector saw a record increase of 9% to 11.4 billion euros. The use of robotics and automation have improved the economy and created jobs, and those thinking that robots may steal jobs in the future, should not worry, according to Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of the VDMA trade association Robotics + Automation.

"Worries about a future where robots snatch people’s jobs away are unfounded. Humans and robots are a winning combination. Even sensational reports to the contrary cannot blind us to this fact," he said.

For 2015, the VDMA is predicting 5% growth, as the first four months of the year already show an order intake that exceeds 2014 by 11%. Demand came mostly from abroad, as it did in 2014 (55% of orders) with the largest export market being China, where more and more investments are being made in automation technology.

"Prospects are good that the industry will reach the turnover mark of 12 billion euros by the end of the year," said Hans-Dieter Baumtrog, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation.

Individual subsectors of Robotics and Automation saw increases across the board, including a 7% increase in robotics (3.3 billion euros in 2014), and a 16% increase in machine vision (1.9 billion euros), which was the largest increase of all the subsectors. Integrated assembly solutions (components and systems for assembly and handling), also increased by 8% to 6.2 billion euros. Additionally the number of employees in the entire sector grew by 3%, reaching nearly 52,000.

Page 1 | Page 2