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Universal Robots (UR), a global leader in the rapidly growing market of collaborative robots (cobots), sees turnkey solutions providers who successfully create new applications and products around existing technologies to be one of the main drivers for the robotics industry’s growth in 2023.

With rapid workplace transformation evident across industries, whether it is moving to hybrid working or adopting new technologies, Malaysian firms are implementing tech-driven changes at a rapid pace. Malaysia’s National Robotics Roadmap (NRR) 2021–2030 has set its target to establish robots as a major enabling technology to boost productivity, competitiveness and people’s quality of life. NRR focuses on three high-impact industries: manufacturing, agriculture and services (retail & healthcare) industries that will greatly increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

“As society becomes more digital, embracing technology and managing new processes effectively become key success factors. In 2023, businesses will rely ever more on technology and innovation to break new ground with turnkey solutions at the heart,” said Anders Beck, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Universal Robots.

Universal Robots (UR) outlines five key predictions that will drive automation industries in 2023:

Turnkey Solutions Will Increase Accessibility to Automation

2023 will be the year of turnkey solutions. Creating a robotic system requires hardware development, software development, application development, sensors and interfaces. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)—companies creating new applications and products around existing technologies—will lie at the heart of this. They are able to drive innovation by combining technologies to deliver complete solutions for the most common applications, such as welding and palletising. As a result, automation will become more sophisticated yet more straightforward to use than ever before.

Manufacturers Will Switch to Modular Production

Traditional industrial robots which are typically large and fixed require complex deployment. In contrast, cobots can perform a similar range of activities to traditional industrial robots but are smaller, lighter and much easier to deploy.

As cobots continue to change the way work is done in applications such as packing, palletising, welding and assembly, even larger companies will turn to lightweight cobots to increase modularity in their production. Robot weight and versatility will be key specifications for those looking for new automation solutions with more reconfigurable robotic work cells.

Higher Payload and Longer-Reach Cobots Will Change the Landscape for Some Applications

Many businesses will continue to handle heavy payloads as they progress towards cobot automation. However, with the introduction of several higher payloads and longer-reach cobots, they will continue to revolutionise sections of the industrial business in 2023, enhancing the working life of many employees.

As more companies move towards cobot automation, many are looking to handle heavy payloads with higher payload, longer reach cobots. In 2023, these will continue to transform parts of the manufacturing industry, improving the working lives of many.

Long-Term Growth in Industrial Robot Installations Will Continue

The recent IFR World Robotics Report showed that industrial robot installation reached an all-time high in 2021 increasing by 31% over the previous year. Overall, worldwide annual robot installations between 2015 and 2021 have more than doubled. UR expects the upward trend of cobot automation to resume in 2023 as global businesses continue to face labour and skills shortages.

Customers Will Be the Heart of Product Development

Human collaboration drives innovation. Customers understand their own needs better than anyone else. As the automation market matures, robotics companies will involve end customers much more in product development. UR predicts that co-development projects where robotics companies and customers work together in developing specific solutions are set to increase in 2023 and beyond. Ultimately, these allow customers to directly influence the product, while at the same time delivering valuable feedback for the robotic companies.

“While traditional industrial robots remain important in some parts of manufacturing, there is an increasing trend towards deploying more flexible models of production. Cobots are designed to work alongside humans and are better suited to environments that require flexibility and adaptability. On top of this, they are most cost-effective for businesses looking to deploy automation—a key consideration going into 2023,” concluded Beck.

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