PRESS RELEASE: The types of jobs that robots can do are changing fast, as new companies and technologies see the light of day. In Spain, mobile robots are quickly becoming one of the most important technologies for local automation suppliers. Over the last 10 years, the number of new businesses specialized in automating logistics applications, typically using mobile robots, have increased by 45 % in Spain according to data from the 2022 robot market report published today. This is a significant increase compared to the overall number of new robot and automation suppliers founded during the same period (2012-22), growing by 31 %.

“We are seeing a lot of new and growing businesses related to mobile robots and logistics coming out of Spain. It is definitely a market worth watching,” said Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot.com and Gain & Co.

A total of 384 robot and automation suppliers have been identified in Spain in the report, the vast majority (65 %) of them integrators, and 11 % being robot manufacturers. While most industrial robots in Spain are imported, a lot of mobile robots are developed and manufactured locally.

“Spain is in a leading position with many local suppliers and manufacturers of mobile robots that are exporting their technology,” said Alex Salvador, Managing Director of AER Automation, the Spanish association for robotics and automation.

“There are good business conditions driving this development: A relative low costs of producing the robots in Spain and a growing need from local automotive and aeronautics manufacturers for automating their logistics operations,” he added.

Mobile robots carry aircrafts

Examples of noteworthy mobile robot companies coming out of Spain include ASTI Mobile Robotics, acquired by ABB in 2021 for $190M. The company is known for its wide range of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) used in many industries.

The Spanish robot industry has also given birth to mobile robot companies with niche applications such as DTA. The company manufactures some of the world’s largest Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), capable of carrying extremely heavy items, such as aircraft parts, of up to 600 tons.

Other examples include Robotnik, known for its mobile robots for both indoor and outdoor use sometimes including robot arms mounted to the mobile base; Kivnon – manufacturing and exporting a range of mobile robots to Europe, North America, and South America; and Atlas Robots, specializing in mobile robots for pallet transport.

Also, many startups are further expanding the use cases for mobile robots with new technologies and inventions such as a robot with omnidirectional wheels from Steering Machines, used to navigate in tiny spaces.

“The increasing number of robot businesses – especially within mobile – in Spain present a growing opportunity for international players looking for new business partners in the field and expanding their portfolio. We expect some more M&A activity in the time to come,” said Alex Salvador.

Highlights from the market report

The research has identified 384 robot and automation suppliers in Spain, namely:

• 42 robot manufacturers
• 248 integrators
• 73 sub-component suppliers
• 20 distributors
• 1 advisor

The top industries in Spain that robot and automation companies are supplying to:

• Robotics: 157 suppliers
• Logistics: 138 suppliers
• Automotive: 133 suppliers

The top solution types offered by most robot and automation suppliers in Spain:

• Handling and picking: 201 suppliers
• Packing & palletizing: 133 suppliers
• Logistics: 77 suppliers

For access to further statistics and datasets on Spain, see purchase options and get a free preview of the market report on HowToRobot.com.