Report: Deployment of robots in Czech factories slows

The number of industrial robots operating in the Czech Republic’s factories has dropped for the second year in a row, the website e15 reported on Thursday, citing an annual report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Nevertheless, the Czech Republic still remains high above world average in terms of robot density.

The new report shows a record of 2.7 million industrial robots are operating in factories around the world, which is an increase of 12 percent on the previous year.

Asia remains the strongest market for industrial robots: operational stock for the region´s largest adopter China rose by 21 percent and reached about 783,000 units in 2019. Japan ranks second with about 355,000 units, followed by India, which has doubled the number of industrial robots operating in the country’s factories to the current 26,300 units.

The Czech Republic finished in 16th spot with 147 robots per 10,000 employees. The average of the world’s 57 most industrial countries stands at 113.

Czech plants installed 2,624 robots in 2019, which is a fall of four percent on the previous year. Despite the drop, it is still the 15th highest figure among the countries included in the report.

The report also suggests that the Czech Republic has been overtaken by Poland, which installed 2,651 robots in its factories last year.

According to Vítězslav Lukáš of the Swedish-Swiss robot manufacturer ABB, their latest data show that the Czech Republic has fallen behind in recent years.

“It is no longer true that robots are acquired only by countries with expensive workforce. We are being overtaken by countries which regard automation as an opportunity.

“At this moment, it is particularly apparent. Many automated work places can operate despite having fifty percent of employees in quarantine.”

According to the IFR report, the global coronavirus pandemic will reduce investments into automation and the number of newly installed robots will continue to drop until 20201.