ABB is UK’s leading supplier of new robots according to BARA (Video)

The leading market share continues from that achieved in 2009 when ABB took 36 per cent across the entire year. ABB says that the figure is significant as it is not a result of any spike created through one major project. Within ABB, only one other country sold more robots in 2009 than 2008, an encouraging sign of recovery in UK manufacturing and that manufacturers are seeing the benefits of automation in building long term competitiveness. ABB's UK sales and marketing manager for robotics Nigel Platt attributes the success to three key strategic developments in the business: a focused channel partner network; investment in training; and the large service organisation in the UK. Mr Platt said: "We now need to encourage UK business to embrace robotics and follow the lead of the food and beverage industry. The majority of what we are selling today is to this sector. It has realised that there are 10 good reasons for using robots and these are: 1. Drastically reduced operating costs 2. Consistently high product quality 3. Enhanced employee satisfaction 4. Increased production output rates 5. Increased product manufacturing flexibility 6. Enhanced competitiveness through greater efficiency 7. Improved workplace health and safety 8. Reduce the difficulty of recruiting skilled staff 9. Reduced capital costs (inventory, work in progress) 10. Space savings in high value manufacturing areas" Related video: 10 reasons to use robotics