Italy Has the Most Robotics and Automation Companies in Europe, Finds Report

Italy is making its mark as a leader in the European robotics and automation industry, according to a new report from HowToRobot in collaboration with UCIMA, the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers' Association. With a total of 655 companies, the Italian industry is the largest in Europe by number of businesses, ahead of France and Germany, said the study.

“Italy is among the leaders in providing and adopting robotics and automation, thanks to its large, diverse, and mature automation industry,” stated Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot. “With the growing global need for proven and robust automation solutions, Italy has much to offer.”

HowToRobot claimed that it is the world's leading matchmaking platform for robotic automation, connecting businesses with over 16,000 robot and automation suppliers globally—over 1,100 in the U.S. The Chicago-based company also offers a range of services for quotes on robots, leasing options, and more.

Italy demonstrates strength in packaging

One of the Italian robotics industry’s key strengths is within packaging machinery and automation. The country has the highest share of the global packaging machinery market at 16.5% with a turnover of €8.1 billion ($8.69 billion U.S.) in 2021, ahead of Germany with an estimated market share of 14.9%, according to UCIMA.

Exports account for 78% of the Italian packaging machinery’s turnover, it said.

“Automation finds its maximum expression in Italy in packaging and processing machinery sector,” said Gian Paolo Crasta, executive director at UCIMA. “Italian companies have always been pioneers in research and development of solutions that make increasingly efficient and automated industrial lines.”

“Thus, Italian manufacturers are preferred engineering partners of many companies of the most diverse sectors—food, beverage, pharma, chemical, tissue, home, and personal care—around the world,” he added.

Growth prospects for the automation industry

Italy’s robot and automation industry is serving both local and global markets where the need for automation is increasing. Global robot installations will increase from 517,000 in 2021 to 690,000 in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%, predicted the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

In Italy, robots and automation are already widely adopted, and several trends are expected to further increase the need for automation, said HowToRobot. These factors include growing labor shortages, e-commerce growth, and competitive pressures to increase productivity.

One of the key strengths of the Italian robotics industry is its ability to quickly adapt to changing demands, noted the market report. The industry is heavily specialized in creating and integrating proven systems to the needs of end users, it said.

About the Italian robotics industry

The report, “Market Analysis of Robot and Automation Firms in Italy 2023,” published today, highlights new key statistics and research about the Italian robot and automation suppliers:

• Italy is leading in Europe by number of robot and automation suppliers with a total of 655 companies, followed by France (628 companies), and Germany (540 companies).
• 70% of Italy’s robot and automation suppliers are integrators, followed by sub-component suppliers (22%), robot manufacturers (5%), distributors (3%), and advisors (1%).
• Handling and picking automation is the solution type offered by most robot and automation suppliers in Italy (355 companies), followed by packing and palletizing (265 companies), and machining and shearing (196 companies).

To learn more about the Italian robot and automation industry, including market insights, statistics, and key information about each supplier, read the full market report.