Introduction
Robotics is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic technology sectors globally. From manufacturing to warehousing, healthcare to education, robots are increasingly being adopted to automate processes, improve efficiencies and enhance quality across industries. The global robotics market is expected to reach $340 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 24.8%.
Behind this phenomenal growth are some pioneering companies that have been fundamental in building innovative robotic systems and solutions over decades. In this comprehensive guide, we rank the 10 largest robotics companies worldwide by annual revenue and provide an in-depth perspective into their history, offerings, achievements and financial growth.
For each company profiled, key details are covered, including:
- When and how the company was founded, along with key founders
- The company‘s main products, services and innovations in robotics
- Examples of their major robotic systems or solutions
- Revenue over the past few years demonstrating financial growth
The focus is to give readers a detailed overview of the trailblazers in robotics automation from established industrial leaders to newer players making an impact globally.
10. Universal Robots
Founded in 2005 in Denmark by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy and Kristian Kassow, Universal Robots pioneered the concept of collaborative robots or "cobots". Unlike traditional industrial robots that operate autonomously behind cages, cobots can work side-by-side humans, safely and flexibly automating tasks.
Some examples of Universal Robots‘ popular cobots include:
- UR3: Launched in 2015, this table-top cobot can handle lightweight tasks like pick-and-place and quality inspection.
- UR5: First introduced in 2008, the UR5 can automate low-weight processing and assembly tasks with its 5 kg payload capacity.
- UR16e: With its expanded 16 kg payload and 900 mm reach, the 2019 UR16e excels at packaging and machine-tending applications.
In 2021, Universal Robots generated $311 million in revenue, a 41% year-over-year increase underscoring the rising demand for collaborative robots.
9. iRobot
Founded in 1990 by MIT roboticists Helen Greiner, Colin Angle and Rodney Brooks, iRobot is best known for its Roomba robotic vacuums. Over 30 million home vacuum robots have been sold globally, revolutionizing home cleaning.
Beyond vacuums, iRobot builds robots for defense and security, healthcare, education, enterprise and more. Some other examples include:
- PackBot: A tactical military robot deployed for reconnaissance, inspection and hazardous missions. More than 2,500 PackBots are currently in use worldwide.
- Root: A coderable robot that helps students learn STEM and computer science fundamentals. adopts a friendly persona to encourage engagement.
- Terra: Built for tackling outdoor commercial mowing needs, the all-wheel drive Terra can mow steep hills and handle tough terrain.
In 2021, iRobot generated $1.565 billion in revenue, driven by strong demand for its autonomous home floor-cleaning robots.
8. Yaskawa Electric Corporation
Japanese industrial automation giant Yaskawa was founded in 1915 by Daigoro Yasukawa. It introduced one of the world’s first all-electric industrial robots called Motoman L10 in 1977, presaging the automation revolution in factories.
Some of Yaskawa’s popular industrial robots include:
- Motoman MH50-35: With its exceptionally large work envelope, this materials handling robot excels at palletizing and depalletizing.
- Motoman GP25: Featuring compact dimensions, this 2-axis robot suits high-speed pick-and-place and handling needs.
- Motoman MA2010: This 7-axis cutting-edge robot delivers extraordinary flexibility aided by servo motor drives in each wrist joint.
In 2021, Yaskawa posted over $3.6 billion in robotics division revenue. The company has installed over 300,000 Motoman robots worldwide.
7. FANUC
Headquartered in Japan, FANUC has been a frontrunner in industrial automation for over 60 years. Its expertise spans robotics, CNCs, servo motors and lasers.
Some of FANUC’s popular industrial robots include:
- M-2000iA/2300: Launched in 2021, this is dubbed “the world’s strongest intelligent robot” with its ability to lift 2.3 tons.
- CRX 10iA: This collaborative robot features rounded corners, smooth surfaces with soft rubber skin to enable human-robot collaboration.
- LR Mate 200iD: Flexible and compact, this mini robot suits material handling and machine tending needs across industries.
In 2021, FANUC crossed $5.1 billion in robotics revenue, an 11% increase from 2020 demonstrating steady segment growth. More than 775,000 FANUC robots have been installed globally.
6. Zebra Technologies
Founded in 1969, Zebra Technologies is a pioneer in marking, tracking and printing technologies. It creates specialized printers, scanners, RFID and mobility tools for sectors like retail, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation logistics.
In 2021, Zebra acquired robotics company Fetch Robotics to augment its intelligent automation solutions. Some examples include:
- Fetch Freight: These autonomous mobile robots optimize material flows in warehouses safely while integrating with existing infrastructure.
- Fetch CartConnect: By automating cart transportation, this solution lets warehouse pickers focus on value-adding tasks.
Zebra Technologies clocked record net sales of $5.6 billion in 2021, including initial contribution from its robotics division. This highlights strong technology spending across target industries.
5. Yamaha Motor Company
Japanese conglomerate Yamaha has robotics under its industrial automation business unit. Leveraging its mechatronics capabilities, Yamaha builds single-axis to 7-axis robots for factory and industrial applications.
Some examples include:
- YK400XG: Featuring a CNC-machined aluminum body with IP67 protection, this high-speed 4-axis robot excels at picking and packing.
- YK1200X: With its 1200 kg payload capacity, this robot suits heavy material handling including compressive load and metalworking.
In 2021, Yamaha Motor’s industrial robots division formed a key part of its $16.5 billion in consolidated net sales. With its technology strengths, the company is gearing up for projected growth in automation.
4. NVIDIA
Known popularly for graphics processing units (GPUs), NVIDIA plays an influential role in robotics via its AI computing platforms. NVIDIA GPUs power advanced capabilities like machine learning, computer vision and accelerated computing needed in next-gen robots.
Key products aiding the robotics industry include:
- Jetson Platform: Supports complex edge AI capabilities for robots and autonomous machines.
- Isaac SDK: Using digital twins and simulation, this toolset accelerates robot development leveraging NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform.
In 2021, NVIDIA crossed a record $16.6 billion in revenue driven significantly by its advanced AI platform offerings applicable for robotics and autonomous systems.
3. ABB
Headquartered in Zurich, Swiss-Swedish multinational ABB is a pioneer in industrial automation. Across 100 countries, ABB supplies robots, electrification, motion, industrial automation and robotic software solutions.
Some popular ABB industrial robots include:
- IRB 390 FlexFeeder: Designed for machine tending and palletizing needs in the food and beverage sector.
- IRB 2600ID: With its dressed cabling and smart protective skins, this robot enables close collaboration with operators on factory floors.
Cementing over 40 years of robotics advances, ABB reported record revenues exceeding $28.9 billion in 2021. The company notes strong interest in logistics automation solutions currently. Over 500,000 ABB robots have been deployed worldwide.
2. Denso
A leading mobility supplier servicing the automotive sector, Japan-based Denso forayed into robotics with development focused on optimizing production processes. Denso’s robotic solutions span concept design to planning, manufacturing and system control.
Some examples of Denso industrial robots deployed globally include:
- VS Series: Comprising vertical articulated arms with 6 kg to 20 kg payloads, these robots suit assembly, pick-and-place and handling tasks.
- Cobotta: Launched in 2020, this industrial-grade collaborative robot features safety and flexibility needed for human teamwork.
As a top Fortune 500 corporation, Denso recorded consolidated revenues of $49.4 billion in 2021. The company is now prioritizing R&D for next-generation robotics and automation.
1. Midea Group
Dongguan, China-headquartered Midea Group is the world’s largest home appliance producer. Since acquiring German robotics firm KUKA AG in 2016, Midea has also become topmost across industrial automation.
Some robots under KUKA, the group’s robotics sub-brand are:
- KR QUANTEC: With generous payloads of 300 kg for heavy-duty applications, this 6-axis robot features special wrist joints for speed.
- KR DELTA: Flexible pick-and-place automation with superb repeatability makes this delta robot ideal for the electronics industry.
As the world’s number one consumer appliance company, Midea Group surpassed annual revenues of $53 billion in 2021. The group is focused next on Industry 4.0 upgrades across China manufacturing plants.
Conclusion
Robotics automation is transforming a diverse range of sectors while driving improved productivity, quality, safety and machine capabilities. As underscored by their financial growth, the 10 largest robotics companies profiled here are at the epicenter of these dramatic tech-fueled shifts worldwide.
Beyond scale, these industry majors prioritize advancing innovations through consistent R&D while customizing solutions for evolving real-world needs. However smaller, emerging robotics firms are also making an impact with cutting-edge development – size does not always correlate with impact.
As intelligent connectivity and AI elevates robot capabilities, the next decade will likely see robots become far more ubiquitous across the industrial spectrum and even in daily lives. Market forecasts predict the industry growing multi-fold in the next few years as adopters look to tap automation, flexibility and competitive advantages delivered by robots.
The 10 Largest Robotics Companies Ranked by 2021 Revenue
| Global Rank | Company | Annual Revenue (2021) |
| #1 | Midea Group | $53.07 billion |
| #2 | Denso Corporation | $49.4 billion |
| #3 | ABB | $28.9 billion |
| #4 | NVIDIA | $16.68 billion |
| #5 | Yamaha Motor Company | $16.5 billion |
| #6 | Zebra Technologies | $5.627 billion |
| #7 | FANUC | $5.18 billion |
| #8 | Yaskawa Electric Corporation | $3.66 billion |
| #9 | iRobot | $1.565 billion |
| #10 | Universal Robots | $311 million |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common applications of industrial robots?
Some of the most popular applications of industrial robots include welding, painting, assembly, pick-and-place, packaging, palletizing, product inspection and testing. These often involve repetitive or dangerous tasks.
What is the largest industrial robot by payload capacity?
Currently the robot boasting the highest payload capacity globally is the FANUC M-2000iA/2300. Launched in 2021, it can lift objects as heavy as 2.3 tons and is dubbed "the world’s strongest intelligent robot”.
What is the typical axis range of industrial robotic arms?
Industrial robot arms typically have between 3 to 6 axes offering flexibility of movement. Higher axes allow for more dextrous motion in wrist joints. Delta robots used for pick-and-place are lower axes variants focused on speed.
How safe is collaborative robotics technology?
In-built sensors, automated speed & separation monitoring abilities of most collaborative robots ensure they operate safely hand-in-hand with human colleagues. Their lightweight designs and rounded edges mitigate injury risks. Cobots represent the future of human-robot teamwork.
