The World Robotics 2011 - Industrial Robots, forecast, published today by the International Federation of Robotics, predicts another substantial rise of 18% in robot sales in 2011 to about 140,000 units - a new peak level. A further increase in industrial robot sales will take place between 2012 and 2014. That increase should total about 6% per year on average, attaining a level of about 167,000 units in 2014.

Meanwhile, the number of robots operating in the factories world-wide will increase to about 1.3 million units at the end of 2014. “However, it is still possible that due to a shortage of components and capacity problems a part of these expected robot installations in 2011 will have to be shifted to 2012”,…