Keywords
Citation
(2002), "Japan's industrial robot industry struggling", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929aab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Japan's industrial robot industry struggling
Keywords: Japan, Robotics
JARA (Japanese Robot Association) news- released that the industrial robot shipment in the first half (January to June) of 2001 amounted to 1,879 Billion Yen (ca. 1,600 M$) which is 26 per cent down from the first half of the previous year.
Incoming orders also fall to 1,606 billion Yen, which is 44.6 per cent down. The decreasing ratio has been getting bigger and bigger. JARA predicts that this slump will continue until the latter half of this year.
Domestic shipment is 1,017 billion Yen (minus 4.9 per cent). Shipment to automotive industry was increased to 298 billion Yen (plus 40.8 per cent), which however cannot offset the decrease in electrical industry.
Export is 863 billion yen (minus 41.4 per cent). Shipment of electronic parts insertion and assembling robots is minus 54.3 per cent with 472 billion yen (ca.400$), which reflects low capital investment of worldwide information technology related industries.
Since quick recovery of export is not foreseen, Japanese robot manufacturers continue to be struggling in an attempt to reduce production capacity and cut down cost.