MTA 2015- Opportunities for Southeast Asia

 

The International Federation of Robotics states that demand for industrial robots will continue at an average annual growth rate of 12 percent between 2015 and 2017. In Asia/Australia, robot sales are expected to increase by around an average of 16 percent per year. The automotive and electronics industries will continue to see increasing investment in robots.

 

Mr Lim Say Leong, Assistant Vice President, Marketing of ABB (an exhibitor at MTA 2015), thinks that in a new era of robotics, collaboration between humans and robots will become a reality. MTA2015 caught up with Mr Lim to learn more about future trends in automation technologies and robotics for the Asian manufacturing sector. ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, will be showcasing its robotics solutions at MTA 2015.

 

Further automation will lead to a less labour intensive and more productive future, with less resources and time used to produce more goods at a high and consistent quality. Robots not only bring productivity, but also huge reductions in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Automation lines equipped with vision systems can also operate without the need for ambient factory lighting or air-conditioning, allowing for the possibility of 24/7 operation with substantial energy savings.

 

Southeast Asia is developing with higher levels of education. This creates a demand for more engaging and meaningful jobs in the market, which could pose a challenge to manufacturers in the region who will need to revamp their organisation of human resources. In fact, some small medium enterprises have started employing robotic automation as a means to retain talent and even attract their next generation to inherit the business.

 

Faced with an uncertain economic outlook, businesses have to rethink ways to add value to their products and services. Cheaper Asian countries have the competitive advantage of high volume and low cost in their production chain. For example, product cycles in the electronics industry are getting shorter, with new models and functions being introduced at a blistering pace. Fast deployment and incredible flexibility are key to meeting the demands of low volume but high mix products. In this regard, manufacturers can be flexible in switching between different products and processes with robots, rather than needing large scale production with high product volume. By offering higher quality products coupled with fresh varieties, companies can bring a difference to the table and disrupt the market.