At present, in the high-tech industry, the demand for innovative products is surging tremendously. The trend of reliable and effective devices, which can perform tasks faster and have lower production costs, is increasing in various verticals across the world. End-effector technology, which is considered as the business end of robots, is gaining immense popularity across the world. End-effector is attached to a wrist of a robot, which enables the robot to interact with its task. End-effectors can be electromechanical or mechanical and serve as sensors, grippers, and process tools. It is an essential part of a robot since, without it, most robots are practically useless. It uses various communication protocols and different programming interfaces and needs different levels of skills to operate effectively. The robot end-effector is used in various industries, including automotive, metal and machinery, electrical & electronics, food & beverages, and e-commerce. With the development of Industry 4.0, industrial operations are rising, leading to the popularity of robots for taking up complex tasks. Growing innovations in robotics are commencing an exponential growth of the robot end-effector market.
ABB Ltd., DESTACO (Dover Corporation), J. Schmalz GmbH, SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG, and Zimmer Group – Prominent Market Participants in Robot End-Effector Market
Due to adaptive robot arms and end-effectors, automation of various business process can be done at a fraction of the time, unlike traditional industrial robots. A broad range of complex tasks can now be accomplished due to the flexibility and versatility of the end-effectors, which maximizes the return on investment (ROI). Increase in applications of automating packaging and palletizing in the manufacturing industry and swift growth in modernization & industrialization across all the regions are positively influencing the market growth. The mounting adoption of collaborative robots (Cobots), owing to their advantages and features is another factor propelling the market growth. Additionally, the robot end-effector market is poised to flourish in the coming years as governments of developing countries are attracting foreign direct investments to optimize hectic and monotonous operations performed across industries with ease and precision. Thus, all the above factors are catering to the growth of the market.
ABB Ltd., DESTACO (Dover Corporation), J. Schmalz GmbH, SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG, and Zimmer Group are some of the key market players operating in the global robot end-effector market. The listing of key players is derived by considering multiple factors such as overall revenue, current robot end-effector product portfolio, geographical reach, new product launches, market initiatives, investment in technology upgradation, partnerships, and other market related activities. In addition to these players, there are several other important players operating in the robot end-effector ecosystems which were studies analyzed during the course of this market research study, such as ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.; Festo SE & Co. KG; Kuka AG; Piab AB; and Robotiq Inc. among others. Further, in January 2020, Kuka AG had launched a new industrial robot range, the KR IonTec. The KR IonTec sets standards in terms of flexibility in the medium payload category. The KR IonTec could be used in any installation position including the floor, the wall, or inclined. In November 2018, Piab AB had introduced piCOBOT at Pack Expo. The piCOBOT is an end-of-arm (EOAT) vacuum tool designed specifically for the cobot market. Featuring the company’s vacuum technology, enabling improved efficiency, productivity, and working environments, piCOBOT offered industry-certified plug-and-play extensions to the latest collaborative robots, so called cobots.
Most of the market initiatives were observed in North America and APAC regions, which have a high potential of market-related products, solutions, and services. Few of the important market initiatives from the industry are mentioned below:
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Year |
News |
Country |
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2021 |
DESTACO (Dover Corporation) had introduced TC1 quick-install manual tool changer designed for a collaborative robot (cobot) pick & place and load & unload applications. The TC1 provides seamless integration for fast tool change operation, thereby expanding cobot flexibility and increasing return on cobot investment. |
North America |
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2018 |
ABB Ltd. had introduced the IRB 1100, the smallest & lightest robot to date as part of its growing offering of solutions for small parts assembly at the China International Industry Fair 2018 in Shanghai. The IRB 1100 offered up to 35 percent faster cycle times to maximize productivity and repeatable accuracy. In addition to improving production space flexibility, the IRB 1100 allows more flexible handling for heavy-load operations with complex tools or end effectors. |
APAC |
