Interact Analysis breaks down Rockwell acquisition of Clearpath Robotics
Author : Ash Sharma, Interact Analysis
08 September 2023
Ash Sharma, Senior Research Director for Robotics and Warehouse Automation at market intelligence firm Interact Analysis
As reported on these pages, Rockwell Automation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Clearpath Robotics. Ash Sharma, Senior Research Director for Robotics and Warehouse Automation at market intelligence firm Interact Analysis, analyses this news.
Prompted by this announcement, Ash Sharma took the opportunity to share his thoughts on what the announced acquisition might mean for both companies.
According to Sharma, the news throws the spotlight on the potential for autonomous mobile robotic (AMRs). He says, "This acquisition is a further sign that autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have a big future as part of the industrial automation toolkit. Currently, AMRs have tended to hit the headlines in relation to their role in warehouses, including both e-commerce and distribution warehouses. However a huge opportunity exists in production lines which is where OTTO Motors has had success."
Explains Sharma, "Rockwell’s aims for Clearpath, and particularly for OTTO Motors, are more wide-ranging than just warehouses, and they intend to expand deploying on factory floors. If AMR deployment takes off on factory floors in a big way, as I believe it will, then we will see major growth for AMRs in this area.
AMR market potential
Interact Analysis' research shows that the market for AMRs in manufacturing will grow 30 percent annually, for the next five years, to hit a market size of $6.2 billion by 2027. Highlights Sharma, "We saw a similar story in 2021 with ABB’s acquisition of ASTI, and I believe that there is much more of this to come. I fully expect to see most major industrial automation companies either acquire or organically develop mobile robot companies in the next few years."
More on Interact Analysis here.
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