Top 10 Robotic companies in the manufacturing industry

Mobile Magazine considers leading robotic manufacturing companies that are driving the change towards a human/machine collaborative working environment

Smart factories are deemed to be an inevitable part of the future of technology, with humans and robots increasingly working side-by-side to produce excellent products. They have been so-described as integral to future manufacturing, with AI and data driving the change.

As described by SAP, a smart factory is “a cyber-physical system that uses advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyse data, drive automated processes, and learn as it goes.”

Mobile Magazine explores its Top 10 robotic manufacturing companies for smart factories, many of which are ground-breaking in their work with robotics and artificial intelligence.

10: Robotnik​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Key facts
  • +50 countries
  • +5.000 robots on the market
  • +20 years of experience
  • +4.800 customers

Robotnik is part of United Robotics Group and specialises in the development of industrial robotic applications based in mobile platforms and mobile manipulators. The company prides itself on adapting to client needs with mobile solutions being a key focus. With central headquarters in Spain, Robotnik designs, manufactures, and markets mobile robots capable of working in collaborative environments alongside humans. 

Speaking on smart factories in 2021, the company said; “the simplification of mechanical processes is the greatest added value that collaborative mobile robots can bring to the industry, leaving creativity to people.”

9: Mitsubishi Electric

One of the core companies of Mitsubishi also headquartered in Japan, Mitsubishi Electric is a leading manufacturer and seller of electrical products and systems used everyday. Its range of industrial robots in particular have the ability to pack, tend, assemble, handle, and process all within a factory context.

The company has a wide range of robots and robot solutions, including collaborative robots (cobots), which are both quick and safe to work alongside a human workforce. The robots also all use the same programming language, making it easier for organisations to assimilate robots into the workplace.

8: Kawasaki Robotics

With a reputation for being an all-rounded engineering company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries was one of the first companies to manufacture and sell advanced industrial robots in Japan. 

With 50 years of experience in the technology and manufacturing industries, the company has a wide range of robots, robot arms, and controllers that seek to improve customer productivity and quality. Kawasaki Robotics is truly a robot industry leader in the development of some of the most high quality controllers and the highest quality robots.

7: Universal Robots

Universal Robots’ company vision is for the human workforce to work together with robots. Its cobots are designed to assist businesses to overcome labour and skills shortages, as well as improving working environments for employees.

The company shares frequent updates about its robots to their LinkedIn site, with a recent one showcasing the CT VISION from Cobotech combined with one of Universal Robots’ collaborative robots. 

Universal Robots also reported a record annual revenue of US$311m, a 41% increase since 2020, and 23% more than pre-pandemic results in 2019.  

6: UiPath

UiPath is an AI-based company that aims to advance people forward with automation technology. The company’s intelligent software robots are both flexible and efficient, and range from software-as-a-service (SaaS) to self-hosted on an automation cloud platform.

In 2022, UiPath collaborated with Deloitte in The Smart Factory @ Wichita to advance Industry 4.0 through automation. These manufacturing solutions not only take a human-centred approach, but see human and machine working together in digital transformation to deliver improvements across the digital supply network.

5: FANUC

Key facts
  • Automating industries since 1956
  • 266 locations
  • 107 countries
  • 110+ robot models

FANUC is a global robotics company that, with its offer of more than 100 models, provides one of the widest ranges of industrial robotics in the world. Since the company’s inception in 1956, when company founder Dr Seiuemon Inaba pioneered the concept of numerical control, FANUC has been at the forefront of a worldwide manufacturing revolution.

Robot services include; cobots, articulated robots, delta robots, and arc welding robots, to name just a few. In 2022, it was announced that FANUC would be partnering with LG UPlus to develop a smart factory platform, aiming to help small businesses reduce their initial investment costs.

4: Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a company specialising in digital automation and energy management, providing a wide range of solution-based services. Its motion control robotics are varied and are designed for high-performance automation and precise actions. In particular, the Lexium Cobot can handle repetitive tasks that are physically demanding, or in environments that are hazardous for human workforces.

In March 2023, Schneider Electric announced that it was investing €40 million (US$40.3) in a new smart factory in Hungary. The factory is expected to commence operations in 2024 and will be net zero, using geothermal and solar energy to power the site in order to be energy efficient.

3: Denso

DENSO Corporation is a global automotive components manufacturer headquartered in Japan. It offers systems for everyday use, including household air conditioning equipment, and industrial systems. In 1967, the company started developing robots to optimise its manufacturing processes, thereby improving its hardware and software.

The company has been a pioneering leader in manufacturing automation, which includes the designing and manufacturing of industrial robot arms. More than 27,000 of DENSO’s industrial robots are employed in the company’s manufacturing facilities, with 143,000 additional robots used by other companies worldwide.

2: Siemens

Siemens is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. The company’s robots aim to help manufacturers grow and develop new applications that were previously impossible. 

Siemens offers a wide range of robotic solutions, including robotics design and commissioning, software engineering for industrial machinery, and many more solutions designed to fit the needs of the user. The company also regularly discusses smart factories via its online resources, offering a smart manufacturing solution that uses the internet of things (IoT), edge-based devices, and AI and machine learning that work together for maximum efficiency. 

In May 2023, the company expanded its 3D printing initiatives in the United States, in collaboration with Meltio robotics, in efforts to accelerate the transformation of American manufacturing.

1: ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd. is a Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. The company was formed in 1988 when Sweden's Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget and Switzerland's Brown, Boveri & Cie merged to create ASEA Brown Boveri, later simplified to the initials ABB.

As one of the world’s leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, the company employs more than 11,000 people across 53 countries, and has shipped more than 500,000 robot solutions worldwide. In addition to cobots and industrial robots, ABB also provide autonomous mobile robots, controllers, as well as offering training and guidance on how to use the robotic systems.

The below video demonstrates how students and researchers at ETH Zürich University collaborated with ABB robots to turn digital designs into reality with 3D printing, allowing them more creative freedom.

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