Food Robotics Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Food Robotics Market is segmented By Robot Type (Articulated, Cylindrical, Cartesian, SCARA, Parallel Collaborative, Others), By Payload (Heavy, Medium, Low), By Application (Packaging, Processing, Food Delivery), By End User (Meat, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis 2024 - 2031

Food Robotics Market Overview

Report on Global Food Robotics by DataM Intelligence estimates the market to reach a CAGR of 13.1%  during the forecast period 2024 - 2031. Food Robotics usage in sorting, defect removal, and packaging of food products is on the rise. Demand from food and beverages industry in Asia Pacific is booming. The competitive rivalry intensifies with Fanuc Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Denso Corporation and others operating in the market.

Food robotics is an evolving technology in the field of the food processing industry, automating complex processing activities by means of advanced robotic solutions. The applications performed by the robots include sorting, defect removal, packaging and pick & drop. The inclusion of robots in the food industry has helped in the reduction of time and efforts put by the workers. Thus, robots are being seen as a solution to the shortage of skilled laborers faced by the food industry and this is seeming to boost the food robotics market.

Food Robotics Market Scope

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Food Robotics Market Dynamics

Decreasing labor availability is driving the market growth

The declining availability of labors is the primary driver for the penetration of mechanization in the food industry. Also, the technological advancements led to the development of innovative solutions that increase the quality and efficiency of processing, thus motivating food companies towards robotics. Without skilled labourers, production is slowed down, impacting the delivery time of food products. According to a survey reported by the Association of Labour Providers, around 70% of the food and beverages industry is facing a shortage of skilled labors. Since food robotics has not only provided the solution to reducing the gap between production demand and workforce, it is also increasing the rate of production. Thus, food robotics is being adopted on large scale in recent years.

One of the key challenges for the food robotics market is the installation cost of robots which includes maintenance costs as well. For low and middle-income countries, this might seem to be a very far off target to reach.

Food Robotics Market Segmentation Analysis

Robots helping in the packaging process are reducing the burden on workers in the production line

Packaging is a key integral part of the food industry in which, the final aesthetic value of the product greatly depends on suitable packaging. This has led to food manufacturers relying on advanced packaging technology in their operations. Robots assisting in packaging are proving to be highly valuable to the food industry as usage of contemporary robotics in the food industry. Packaging robots reduce damage to products as their precise movements eliminate scratching or otherwise damaging the surface of products. The primary applications of robots in the packaging are denesting, boxing and palletizing, which involve the removal of empty packages from stacks, the grouping of products into boxes and cases and handling of delicate foods

Global Food Robotics Market Geographical Share

The Asia Pacific is the largest shareholder of the global food robotics market

Asia-Pacific is dominating the global food robotics market, with South Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea, being the major contributors to the market. According to the International Federation of Robotics, worldwide industrial robot sales reached 380,550 units in 2017, with 19% of sales belonging to the food industry. China accounted for the largest share of global sales during the year, with a 58% hike in two years. According to statistics, robotics in the food and beverages industry is expected to be at a peak in 2022, with a market value of 523 million U.S dollars and China and Japan are expected to stay at the top of the list.

Food Robotics Market Companies

The global food robotics market is highly consolidated with key players like ABB Group, KUKA AG, Fanuc Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Rockwell Automation, Mitubishi Electric Corporation, Yasakawa Electric Corporation, Denso Corporation, Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation and OMRON Corporation. Most of these companies are coming up with innovative technologies, to cater for the demand for robotics in the food industry. For instance, 6d Bytes, a U.S based company, launched a fully autonomus robotic station, a blended to ease up the blending task in 2018.

COVID-19 Impact on Food Robotics Market

Pandemic had a positive impact on the global food robotics market

COVID-19 has had a major impact on the food industry due to the regulations imposed by government bodies on permitting workers in the factories. This led to increased demand for robots in the food industry. According to New York Times, the food industry seemed to have increased the usage of automated floor cleaners, which accounted for a 13% rise in reference to the pre-pandemic usage. According to them, the shortage of workers due to social-distancing issues led to the increased application of robots in the food industry. Also, according to the Robotic Industries Association and Association for Advancing Automation, the installation of robotic systems by food manufacturers grew by 56% in 2020.