Canada Robotics Sector Stays Close to Manufacturing, Finds HowToRobot.com and A3 Study

HowToRobot.com and the Association for Advancing Automation today unveiled a study of the current state of Canada's robotics and automation suppliers.

”Our research shows a Canadian robot and automation industry mainly driven by integrators serving the manufacturing sector, including the metal, machinery, and automotive industries and a range of other fields,” stated Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot.com, in a release. “The study enables us to better understand the diversity of the automation industry and both new and existing applications for robotics in Canada.”

While most of the automation industry in Canada is tied to the manufacturing sector, the study did find other sectors of increasing importance. Twenty percent of the robotics and automation industry serves the healthcare sector, and 19% targets the energy sector, said HowToRobot.com and the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). The partners recently identified a similar spread beyond manufacturing in the U.S.

”Canada has a strong integration community for robotics, and a growing interest from a diverse range of industries into how they can apply robotics in their operations,” said Alex Shikany, vice president of A3. “The study provides a broad overview of the automation industry and its many suppliers.”

Canadian robotics sector, by the numbers

The newly released report is based on original research into Canada's robotics and automation businesses conducted by HowToRobot.com. Some of the key findings include:

• The study identified a total of 249 suppliers located in Canada. This included 142 integrators that act as the sector's backbone, integrating systems to meet end users' needs. Alongside these were 49 suppliers of sub-components and 33 robot manufacturers offering core technologies. In addition, the study identified 16 advisors and nine distributors supplying systems and components to the industry.
• Geographically, Central Canada houses 81% of robotics supplier offices. The provinces of Ontario and Quebec accounted for nearly 69% of the Canadian manufacturing industry's revenue in 2021, illustrating a strong link between the automation industry and the manufacturing sector.
• The application areas targeted by most robot and automation suppliers included handling and picking (130 suppliers), inspection and quality control (90 suppliers), and packing and palletizing (89 suppliers).
• The industries served by the most robot suppliers were the robotics industry itself (141 suppliers), metal and machinery manufacturing (108 suppliers), and the automotive industry (89 suppliers).
• The robot brands used by most suppliers included FANUC (64 suppliers), ABB (44 suppliers), and KUKA (39 suppliers).

About HowToRobot and A3

HowToRobot.com is a leading global automation marketplace that connects buyers with suppliers of robotics and automation. The company, which has offices in Chicago and Copenhagen, Denmark, said it matches businesses with relevant systems from its growing network of suppliers.

HowToRobot also provides market insights, guides, and digital tools to help businesses understand their automation needs and connect them with solutions for their specific problems.

The Association for Advancing Automation is a leading global advocate for the benefits of automating. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based organization said it promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done.

Members of A3 represent over 1,160 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, systems integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups, and consulting firms from around the world.