Robots Rule in South Korea
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The South Korean robotics industry experienced record growth last year in output, sales and exports, as increased investments in manufacturing facilities raised productivity levels and technical expertise for 395 firms surveyed by the Korea Association of Robot Industry.
According to the survey, combined sales for the 395 firms nearly doubled to 1.93 trillion won in 2010 (US$1.827 billion) from 2009 to 2010.Total production volume and exports also shot up by 75 percent and 137 percent to around 1.78 trillion won and 229 billion won, respectively.
The South Korean robotics industry experienced record growth last year in output, sales and exports, as increased investments in manufacturing facilities raised productivity levels and technical expertise for 395 firms surveyed by the Korea Association of Robot Industry.
According to the survey, combined sales for the 395 firms nearly doubled to 1.93 trillion won in 2010 (US$1.827 billion) from 2009 to 2010.Total production volume and exports also shot up by 75 percent and 137 percent to around 1.78 trillion won and 229 billion won, respectively.
In a report by AsiaOne, the most commonly sought-after robots were used for industrial purposes such as carrying, loading, assembling and welding. This made up nearly 80 percent of total sales this year, compared to 70 percent in 2010.
[quote]”(The robotics industry) tends to be affected by facility investment because industrial robots are regarded as part of assembly lines,” said an Korean official from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. “Government subsidies and pilot projects play a big part as well.”[/quote]The Korean government recently announced plans in January this year to pump up to 100 billion won (US$90 million) into the development of 10 pilot projects that incorporated industrial robots into seven government ministries by 2013.
This year alone, robots have already been used for education, fire-fighting, sewage repairs and manufacturing purposes, while plans are underway for the deployment of robots in patrolling danger zones, removing mines from the De-Militarised Zone and to also do agricultural work starting from next year.
[quote]”This pan-governmental plan will be a stepping stone for Korean developers to play a leading role in the coming era of robotics revolution,” said Cho Seok, the ministry’s chief of growth engines division.[/quote]Korea is the world’s 4th largest robot manufacturer after Japan, Germany and the US. By 2018, the International Federation of Robotics expects global market demand to reach US$100 billion.
