23 www.drivesncontrols.com January 2025 MOTION CONTROLS n currently much smaller, but is expected to expand at a faster rate. The shortage of experienced engineers is one of the major drivers of machine-integrated robots. By combining robot and machine controllers, engineers can control machines and robots in a unified development environment, without needing to use robot programming languages. This helps reduce challenges both for machine-builders and for end-users in finding or training engineers and operators for robotic machines. The desire by OEMs to build robotic systems in-house is also fuelling the adoption of machine-integrated robots. Machine-builders and integrators increasingly have the capability to build mechanical parts for robots, with some OEMs choosing to make robots by themselves to cut costs. In customised scenarios, OEMs build special robot kinematics in-house, with general automation controllers enabling the practical integration of OEMmade robots into machines. New entrants and partnerships are increasing the number of machine-integrated robots available. Robot manufacturers, machine-builders and motion control system suppliers are all actively introducing new products and systems. For example, in 2023, Rockwell Automation partnered with autonox Robotics, having previously entered a partnership with Atom Robot in late 2022. Now, robot arms from three robot vendors can be equipped with Rockwell PLCs. Recently, Siemens confirmed new cooperation agreements with the cobot manufacturers Universal Robots and Jaka, expanding the range of robots that can be programmed directly on its platform. Motion control suppliers are also working closely with machine-builders to provide systems for OEM-made robots. For example, SEW Eurodrive offers a parallel arm kinematics kit to OEMs wanting to make their own delta robots. In China, many packaging machinery manufacturers now have machines with picking robots developed in-house. The surging smart conveyance market and the emergence of machine-integrated robots offers new opportunities to motion control suppliers. Driven by the trends of digitalisation, flexibility, and ease-of-use in manufacturing, both of these technologies are expected to increase their penetration into the machinery industry. Despite current challenges, many suppliers are preparing strategies for the next growth cycle. Companies with competitive products and systems will benefit when demand inevitably picks up. n Sales of smart linear conveyors head above $1bn Global sales of smart linear conveyor systems will expand rapidly with a CAGR of 19.1% over the coming five years, reaching $1.1bn by 2029, according to a new report from Interact Analysis. The study also looks at planar conveyor technologies which, it predicts, will expand with a CAGR of 28.1% from 2023-2029, to exceed $80m by the end of this period. The markets for both linear and planar smart conveyance technologies (SCTs) are evolving rapidly, driven by industry demands, the benefits of the technologies, and the emergence of new markets. A major driver is the increasing demand for precision movements and rapid throughput in manufacturing processes. Integrating SCTs into smart factories can enhance the efficiency and flexibility of production lines. However, the technologies also face significant barriers such as the global economic slowdown, and reduced investment by the machinery industry. In addition, the high initial investment required for smart conveyance systems compared to traditional conveyors presents a challenge. The SCT market is being shaped by advances in digitalisation and automation. As industries increasingly adopt smart manufacturing practices, integrating smart conveyor systems into production lines is becoming more common. These systems offer enhanced precision and flexibility, allowing manufacturers to optimise their operations and improve efficiency. This trend is particularly evident in sectors such as automotive, electronics and pharmaceuticals, where the demand for high-speed, accurate materialhandling is critical. Interact’s data shows that sales of linear smart conveyance systems surged by 27% in 2021, 32% in 2022 and 23% in 2023, driven largely by demand from the battery manufacturing industry. But the market shrank by around 2.3% in 2024, due to sluggish machinery production and reduced spending by the battery sector. The newer planar conveyance technologies are still in a trial phase, with low levels of customer awareness and trust, compared to the linear systems In 2023, sales of planar SCTs grew by 27%, to exceed $18m. The biggest demand for SCTs is coming from the Asia-Pacific region – in particular, China, Japan and South Korea – driven by the region’s battery and semiconductor industries. In the EMEA region, there is significant interest from the medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage sectors. In the Americas, the warehousing sector was the largest buyer of linear smart conveyance systems in 2023, and growth prospects are “promising”. “The long-term outlook for smart conveyance technology remains robust, with substantial opportunities across various industries, particularly in battery manufacturing and electronics,” says Interact’s senior research director, Tim Dawson. “Our latest comprehensive analysis highlights in detail the transformative potential of both linear and planar systems, underscoring their critical role in the future of industrial automation.” www.interactanalysis.com The global market for smart linear conveyor technologies is likely to embark on a period of expansion this year Source: Interact Analysis B&R Automation’s Acopos 6D system is a planar conveyor technology that moves items on magnetically levitated shuttles
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