Strong growth for US robots

According to the latest statistics released by Robotic Industries Association, in the first quarter of 2013 the US robot manufacturers have posted a 15% increase in orders (over 5,800 units) compared to the same period in 2012, surpassing by 10 percent points the previous record going back to the first quarter of 2005. Shipments have recorded a 25% increase in units and 23% in value, topping 370 million dollars.
The figures relating to orders are particularly high in the automotive, plastics and rubber converters, consumer goods, food, electronic and pharmaceutical industries all of which posted double digit growth. The association estimates that some 228,000 robots are now at use in the US manufacturing industry.