Robot supplier set for record sales

"By the end of March, our sales are projected to rise by 37 per cent on the previous year while turnover, minus extraordinary transactions, is likely to be up 33 per cent. Market share, the real barometer of success, should exceed 12 per cent, double our 2008 figure," said Jeff Nowill, general sales manager. KUKA's success is particularly notable in view of the year-on-year sales figures for the UK robot market which have fallen by more than 40 per cent. The Halesowen-based company has also expanded its network of system partners who install KUKA robots in manufacturing plants for applications including packaging and palletising food and drink products. "Robotic automation had been chosen ahead of traditional mechanical solutions by a wide range of businesses keen to consolidate their operations during the economic downturn," explained Jeff. "More manufacturers now recognise the significant benefits that robots can bring to their processes. They can transform labour intensive, time-consuming tasks into high-performance operations, delivering improved productivity and quality," he added. Among the new orders is a contract to supply a Robocoaster, the world's first passenger-carrying robot, to Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier, which is set to re-open this summer after a multi-million pound restoration programme. A number of new products will be launched during the year including a 16 kg payload arc welding robot which features a hollow-wrist design and 50 mm aperture. The company is also set to exhibit at Farnborough's International Air Show in July.