Orders Drop for U.S. Robot Makers; World Outlook Remains Strong

Last year was a rough one for makers of industrial robotics, according to a study published last month by the Robotics Industries Association (RIA). Orders from North American companies in 2008 were 21 percent lower than in 2007, though total revenue stemming from them dropped only 16 percent. Orders from outside North America improved the year somewhat; counting those sales, total shipments dropped only 18 percent and revenue dropped 15 percent. Of particular concern for forecasters looking at 2009, however, was a sharper drop in orders placed by North American companied during the fourth quarter of 2008. Those orders were 26 percent lower in unit sales, and brought in revenue 33 percent lower than the same period during 2007. The drop is a dramatic letdown from… View this post