Worldwide investment in industrial robots up 19% in 2003.
In first half of 2004, orders for robots were up another 18% to the highest level ever recorded. Worldwide growth in the period 2004-2007 forecast at an average annual rate of about 7%. Over 600,000 household robots in use – several millions in the next few years.

UNECE issues its 2004 World Robotics survey

At end 2003, over 26,000 industrial robots were at work in the French industry, up 8% over 2002

Solid recovery of sales and production of industrial robots in Germany - the world’s second largest user and producer of industrial robots

Over 50,000 industrial robots in Italy, up 7% over 2002. Italy is Europe’s second and the world’s fourth largest user of industrial robots

Almost 20,000 robots in Spain - the robot density in Spain is now higher than in France

In 2003, robot investment in the United Kingdom surged by 48% but robot use in the United Kingdom is still lagging far behind the rest of Europe

Buoyant robot sales in North America