Universal Robots eyes USD 184.5 Million Automation Market in Vietnam

Cobots - robots designed to work side-by-side with people safe – are making automation accessible for businesses of all sizes. With in-built safety features, cobots make it safe for people to work in close proximity without having to install safety barriers (subject to risk assessment). The lightweight, compact and flexible nature of cobots allows them to work in small spaces and across various industries. Cobots also come with a smaller price tag compared to traditional industrial robots, and are less costly to setup.

Present in the country since 2016, UR distributes cobots through its Vietnamese technology distributor and system integrator partners - Servo Dynamics Engineering and Tan Phat Automation JSC. In Vietnam, cobots are deployed in industries such as automotive, electronics, textile, footwear and food processing industries.

Shermine Gotfredsen, General Manager, Southeast Asia and Oceania at UR, said: “Cobot demand is rising in Vietnam as businesses are recognising the importance of employing advanced technology and robotics to maintain a competitive advantage. Furthermore, the government has made Industry 4.0 a top priority, developing action plans to accelerate the adoption of new automated technology, and attract more foreign investors”.

“Cobots provide endless benefits for businesses of all sizes, as they increase productivity, improve output quality and enhance workers’ wellbeing. Early adoption of such automation will allow manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve, equipping them to tackle various issues such as rising operational costs, delivering a working environment that is more sympathetic to workers’ health and safety and human rights issues, and the need for businesses to expand globally to remain competitive,”she added.

Most recently, the company unveiled its new flagship ‘e-Series’ cobots which offer wider application reach, increased useability and faster deployment.

Universal Robots drives Manufacturing Automation

More than 25,000 UR cobots are deployed globally, benefiting businesses across various industries. In Vietnam, UR cobots are improving production efficiency and workers’ safety at Meiko Trading and Engineering Co., Ltd Vietnam, a PCB board manufacturer. “The cobots’ small footprint, flexibility and safety relieved our operators from repetitive and strenuous tasks, providing ease of use and raising the level of work satisfaction in the company,” said Tuan Anh Tran, Deputy Manager, Automation & Sales, Meiko Trading and Engineering Co., Ltd, Vietnam.

Growing Importance of Automation in Vietnam

Deployment of robots in Vietnam is still low in the region . In Southeast Asia, robot density is led by Singapore with 488 units per 10,000 employees, followed by Thailand and Malaysia with 45 units and 34 units each .

Early this year, Vietnam was named among the countries least prepared for the Fourth Industrial Era by a World Economic Forum report, ranking low in terms of innovation and technology . Refuting this claim, the government has been aggressively focusing on developing initiatives and legislations to speed its progress in the era.

Among the efforts include the 2011 – 2020 Strategy for Science and Technology Development to enhance economic competitiveness and speed up industrialisation, prioritising the importance of industrial robots and hi-tech automation.

The Vietnamese economy is one of the fastest growing in the world . The country recorded a 6.8% increase in GDP last year on the back of a humming manufacturing sector. The economy in 2017 was worth VND5 quadrillion (US$223 billion).

Universal Robots continues to grow Global Market Share

The global surge in demand for robots across industries is reflective of UR’s business growth. The company is the world’s leader in cobots with a global market share of 58 per cent (BIS Research) and has sold more cobots than all of its competitors combined. The company has been widening its distribution channels in multiple markets; currently it has 300 distributors in more than 50 countries worldwide. Globally, UR generated USD170 million in revenue in 2017, a 72 per cent increase from 2016.

Participation in the Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2018

UR is participating in the Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2018 (VME) – the country’s leading exhibition on machinery and technology for manufacturing and supporting industries, from 8 to 10 August 2018 at I.C.E. Hanoi.

At UR booth C14, visitors can obtain hands-on experience with cobots and witness how easy it is to use and program the cobots. In addition, visitors can understand how cobots can be used in an industry setting through a vision-guided pick-and-place and gluing application by UR channel partner, Tan Phat Automation JSC. There will also be an interactive soccer cobot showcase which allows visitors to aim and kick a ball through a goal post display board using the UR cobot. Apart from this, there will be a lively dancing robot showcase, part of a range of activities which aim to demonstrate cobot technology’s ease of use and flexible deployment alongside people.