Market Overview

The robot end-effector market is projected to attain a CAGR of approximately 15% over the forecast period (2020 - 2025). Emerging markets are more inclined towards automation due to intense competition in the market and to need to improve product quality along with the increasing speed of production to maintain efficiency and productiveness. This is leading to robotic innovations including end-effectors for various surfaces as well as with different degrees of freedom, to handle routine tasks.

  • With the emergence of Industry 4.0, industrial operations are getting automated, which is leading to the prevalence of robots for carrying out mundane or complex tasks. For instance, robots with laser-vision systems can fit doors precisely to car bodies. Such innovations are leading to an exponential growth of robot end-effectors.
  • Difficulty in integration with existing manufacturing facilities is a challenge for market adoption. The facility owners need to identify the areas where workaround can be done regarding the implementation of robot end effectors.



Scope of the Report

In robotics, an end effector is a device at the end of a robotic arm, designed to interact with the environment. The exact nature of this device depends on the application in the end-user industry, such as automotive, food & beverage, e-commerce or pharmaceutical.

Key Market Trends

Grippers to have Significant Market Share

  • Food Industry is the among the largest end-user industry segment, to embrace grippers. Keeping food industry automation needs in strategic target to develop the solutions, Piab introduced piSOFTGRIP, a novel vacuum-based soft gripping tool in June 2019 which handles unpackaged, fresh, and delicate food items without crushing them.
  • In March 2019, Schunk released its EGL-C long-stroke gripper through which it is aiming to achieve comprehensive human-robot collaboration. The gripper is designed to achieve high gripping forces while complying with global safety standards.
  • 3D printed grippers are gaining popularity, especially in the packaging industry. For instance, Carecos Kosmetic GmbH faced an issue with its packaging process and solved it with 3D plastic grippers. The company initially used aluminum gripper that cost more than USD 11,500 per part and needed six weeks to execute a changeover. But with 3D printed plastic grippers, it was able to economically produce small batches.
  • The safety of the robots and the surrounding environment is slowly coming into the forefront for the industries. Keeping such emerging trends in the product development strategies, University at Buffalo has developed a two-fingered dynamic gripper that could contribute to better grasping as well as improve safety for robots that work around people. The design of the robotic hand enables it to absorb energy from impacts during collisions.
  • According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), growth in the installed base of operational robots is forecasted to increase the market for grippers.



Asia-Pacific to Witness the Highest Growth

  • Growth in Asia-Pacific was due to an increase in installations of robots, especially in Japan. According to IFR, Chinese robot suppliers increased their share of total installations on the domestic market by 5 % points. This trend is in line with China?s policy to promote domestic manufacturers. Thus Asia-Pacific provides a favorable environment for robotic end-effector manufacturers.
  • Moreover, increasing focus towards Industry 4.0 and intelligent automation coupled with a strong manufacturing presence is driving the market growth. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have already launched separate 4.0 roadmaps to spearhead their respective economic agendas.
  • Singapore-based Sesto Robotics offers the next generation of autonomous robotics solutions designed to improve productivity and reduce human error in manufacturing processes. For instance, SESTO Prime’s 7-axis robot arm provides high freedom of movement even in tight spaces.
  • In September 2019, Gideon Brothers presented a new autonomous mobile robot prototype for a Southeast Asia-based energy group. The prototype encapsulates an autonomous 6DOF arm mounted on a fully autonomous robot platform. The arm is equipped with a camera and a three-pronged end effector that has been developed for inspection and manipulation tasks in energy facilities.



Competitive Landscape

The market is fragmented due to strong growth in industrial robotics in warehouses and semiconductor plants, which is benefitting the end-effector manufacturers.

  • September 2019 - OnRobot A/S launched a universal mechanical and electrical interface for any OnRobot end-of-arm tooling that dramatically simplifies automation. With a single robotic system, a single platform for programming and training, and single vendor relationship, manufacturers have access to a full range of tools and full robot compatibility
  • April 2019 - At Automate 2019, Robotiq announced new entries to their product offering, including two suction cup gripper tools. ePick is a suction gripper that uses electric power from the wrist of the robot to power the suction cup, eliminating the need for an external airline.
  • September 2018 - Destaco launched its TCC-2E Series Tolerance Compensation Clamps (TCC). They are designed to provide greater flexibility in welding and assembly applications that require the clamping of components of different thicknesses or tighter tolerances.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

  • The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
  • Report customization as per the client’s requirements
  • 3 months of analyst support