Industrial automation in Spain continues to accelerate, not only due to technological evolution but also due to the need to improve operational efficiency. In this context, factories are accelerating the adoption and use of robots powered by artificial intelligence that is significantly expanding their capabilities.
The new study by reichelt elektronik, one of the most relevant online distributors of electronics and information technology in Europe, offers a current vision of the production facilities of the Spanish industry and analyzes how robotics will evolve in these factories in the near future.
Mobile robots, the most present in the Spanish industry
Within the framework of the industrial transformation that Spain is currently going through, the adoption of robotic solutions continues to gain weight. Thus, 78% of companies say they use robots in their operations, reflecting the growing interest in optimizing processes and improving efficiency.
Regarding the types of robots used, 39% use mobile robots, such as autonomous platforms or mobile manipulators, capable of moving and performing tasks using articulated arms. For their part, 36% use stationary industrial robots for heavy tasks. Likewise, 35% use smaller and lighter models, such as cobots or other robotic arms, designed to work flexibly and in direct collaboration with humans. The use of humanoid robots is still limited, with an adoption of just 5%, which shows their lower maturity and deployment in industrial environments.
The rise of robotics is also reflected in the investment plans of companies. In the next two years, 36% of companies plan to acquire mobile robots, while 33% plan to incorporate cobots or other smaller robots. In parallel, 32% plan to invest in stationary robots, while 14% are considering purchasing humanoid robots.
Cobots or stationary robots?
In this context, a key question arises: are cobots displacing stationary robots? In Spain, 67% of companies affirm that, going forward, they will prioritize robotic arms over traditional stationary robots.
This decision does not respond solely to a question of price. Although 57% say that their choice of a cobot was primarily motivated by cost, an even greater percentage (75%) believe that cobots and lightweight robotic arms offer capabilities that traditional robots do not have.
“There is no doubt that smaller, more flexible robotic arms are currently generating great interest. Thanks to rapid technological advances in recent years, they have established themselves as a key solution in factories. Cobots open up new possibilities, especially for small and medium-sized businesses,” says Malte Janßen, Product Manager for Robotics and Electromechanical Components at reichelt elektronik. “The study shows that 53% of Spanish companies did not use robots before investing in cobots. However, stationary robots will continue to be necessary, especially for heavy loads or when high performance is required, as demonstrated by the results, with 86% of companies agreeing with this. Thus, cobots have established themselves as a fundamental complement to traditional stationary robots.”
New technologies expand application areas
In practice, most companies turn to robots especially when tasks are repetitive (50%) or physically demanding (39%). Among its most common uses are the tasks of collecting and placing parts (34%), as well as the assembly or loading of machinery (32%).
Additionally, robots are given a wide variety of specialized tasks, such as cutting, welding, palletizing, packaging or transporting, reflecting their increasing versatility in industrial environments.
In the case of humanoid robots, whose use remains limited, companies identify multiple potential applications. Thus, 51% would use them to support workers and reduce physical load, while 47% highlight their ability to modernize operations and improve competitiveness through advanced automation. Likewise, 42% consider that they can automate repetitive or demanding tasks and 36% that they contribute to improving operational efficiency and productivity.
39% of companies opt for mobile robots in their industrial operations, 36% for stationary robots and 35% for cobots
Regarding the technologies that have contributed most to optimizing the use of robots in recent years, the improvement of sensors for environmental recognition, such as lidar, ultrasound or cameras (38%), and the use of artificial intelligence, which allows robots to execute increasingly complex tasks (34%), stand out.
Added to these innovations are other relevant advances, such as the development of more advanced software, which facilitates the execution of complex tasks – for example, through robots with a greater number of joints – as well as sensors that improve the “sense of touch” of robots.
Robots take on 50% of the tasks
Currently, the degree of automation using robots varies among Spanish companies. Thus, 43% of companies affirm that robots already assume between 21% and 50% of tasks.
Despite this, most companies believe that this situation will evolve rapidly. In fact, 64% believe manufacturing processes will be fully automated within five years. In line with this vision, 60% agree that robotics will be key to addressing the talent shortage, both in the present and in the future.
In this way, the budget allocated to robotics has increased in 67% of Spanish companies, and in 18% of cases this increase has been truly significant. However, in order to further facilitate and encourage investment in rhotics in the Spanish industry, companies identify several key aspects: price reduction (43%), elimination of barriers in installation and start-up (26%), technological development of hardware (25%) and easier access to financing (25%).
