Robotic Grippers Market

Market Definition

The Robotic Grippers Market size was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2023 and is predicted to reach USD 3.07 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 10.1% from 2024-2030.

Robotics grippers are mechanical devices designed to grasp, hold, and manipulate objects in various applications, replicating the function of human hands. They are a crucial component of robotic systems, allowing robots to interact with their environment, perform tasks, and execute complex operations autonomously. Grippers come in different types and designs, ranging from simple mechanical claws to advanced robotic hands equipped with sensors and actuators for precise and dexterous manipulation of objects.

Emergence of Smart Technologies in Robotic Grippers to Enhance Productivity and Efficiency

The Internet of things (IoT), data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence technologies have all significantly aided the development of industrial robotics. Manufacturers are attempting to offer several types of grippers to ensure a more dependable pick-and-place operation in smart factories. For their modularity, the grippers do not require frequent replacement. This essentially reduces the maintenance cost as well as production downtime. Owing to sophisticated technologies, producers have focused on creating unique, tailored grippers for various applications. Robot grippers with flexible fingers are becoming increasingly common in various industries, as they are effective at grabbing objects of diverse sizes and shapes. Manufacturers are working toward creating 3D-printed robot grippers. Nowadays, new robots feature networked smart sensors that continuously collect data on gripper functions and performances due to developments in Industry 4.0. In addition, emerging systems that employ data from the force, torque, and proximity sensors can use such information to alter gripper movement automatically. Such systems may contribute to safer handling and increased gripper precision in general. These intelligent grippers are well-suited for environments where delicate handling and care need to be exercised while handling things.

 

Increasing Adoption of Robotic Grippers Owing to The Benefits of Better Flexibility and Functionality In Multiple Industries

Several important industries, including automotive, electronics, food & beverage, and others, have turn toward industrial robots and automation to increase efficiency, streamline processes, and maximize output. In an industrial setting, robotic grippers are utilized for various tasks like material handling, warehouse management, packing, shipping, and more. The market for robotic grippers is expanding in the e-commerce sector as well. Advanced robotic grippers are widely used in the manufacturing business, particularly in the automotive sector, to ensure the quality of their goods. Robotic grippers can also be utilized to serve multiple purposes in complex manufacturing processes, such as spot welding in an assembly or spray painting, where a uniform paint job is required. Robotic grippers are widely used in sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Compact and lightweight pneumatic grippers are available. Additionally, pneumatic grippers are simple to integrate into confined places. Hydraulic grippers are widely used in the oil and gas sector due to their tremendous strength. While robotic grippers are widely used in the electrical and electronics industries, where high-precision handling is required for delicate and small components such as computer chips, batteries, and screens.

The Rising Uses of Collaborative Robots for Industrial Purposes

Collaborative end effectors are in high demand due to the constant evolution of industries. This situation is seen in the consumer products sector, especially with packaging, as changes are constantly made to the shape, size, surface, or weight of the packaging. Compared to standard industrial robots that operate autonomously, collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are systems used to collaborate with humans in a shared workspace. Strong government support for Industry 4.0 and other industrial automation standards plays a big part in developing these robots. Pick and place, bin picking, assembly, polishing, deburring, machine tending, gluing, dispensing, and packing are some of the areas requiring robots. New manufacturing and material handling requirements drive the need for developing and using collaborative robots to support floor employees in all industries. Piab (Sweden) developed the piCOBOT, a certified powerful vacuum gripper that supports plug-and-play and seamless integration with Universal Robot's (Denmark) robot arms and is safe to be used alongside humans. Zimmer Group (Germany) and Schmalz (Germany) introduced the MATCH modular system to meet the various industrial robot applications, such as production and assembly. The Zimmer Group (Germany) developed human-robot collaboration (HRC) grippers for use with industrial robot arms, including Yaskawa's (Japan) Motoman Robot and Universal Robots' (Denmark) startZ HRC grippers for robots. Moreover, the collaborative robot from Rethink Robotics (Germany) equipped with an HRC gripper from the Zimmer Group (Germany) was created to help hospital staff monitor regulate the oxygen level of COVID-19 patients. Similarly, Schmalz (Germany) and Zimmer Group (Germany) designed a modular system, MATCH, to address the various uses of industrial robots, including manufacturing and assembly, warehouse logistics, shipping, and laboratory automation.

Problem of Interoperability Along With Lack of Skilled Labor to Operate Robotic Grippers

Interoperability is indispensable for smooth operations in a factory or manufacturing facility.  There must be a 3Dlar framework for hardware and software to link and coordinate different robotic gripper systems. The interchangeability of the hardware between the end effector and robot arm is a major focus area of manufacturers. In addition, programming, diagnosing, and monitoring of the software constitute the other major focus area of manufacturers. In the past, there have been cases where a client purchased a robot arm and an end effector separately that were not entirely compatible, making the configuration extremely difficult. Owing to their particular needs and lack of employees to set up a complicated automation setup, SMEs face a significant problem regarding interoperability concerns. As new end effectors and use cases are developed and the software is frequently updated to address concerns, interoperability continues to be a problem. There have been efforts to standardize end effectors and industrial robots. One such effort is the OPC Unified Architecture, or OPC UA, a machine-to-machine communication protocol created for industrial automation and communication that is open-source and cross-platform. It is still in the amendment phase even after 14 years since its introduction and has not yet become a recognized standard.

Growing Demand for Electric Grippers in Various Industry Verticals

The most popular form of grippers — pneumatic grippers — offer less flexibility and control over grip forces. Pneumatic systems are avoided in the electrical and electronics, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries due to the possibility of air contamination. In such use cases, robots are deployed in cleanrooms or any other site with controlled atmospheric conditions. However, due to the possibility of an oil spill, hydraulic grippers are not used in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Several drawbacks of other grippers are addressed by electric grippers. Electric grippers' early integrations were slow and ineffective, and they could not match other grippers' gripping forces. Present-day electric grippers, nevertheless, with added advantages, rival their pneumatic counterparts in terms of speed and strength. They are completely programmable, giving users more precise control over speed and grip strength. A single electrical gripper can handle different pieces. Due to their electric nature, they provide positioning feedback and can communicate operating status to the control unit, such as jaw position, speed, or grip detection. Pneumatic grippers only have two operational states: totally open and fully closed.

However, their electric counterparts can additionally operate in a partially open or closed state, which can reduce the cycle time when correctly programmed. Due to their programmable nature, electric grippers can be utilized to handle delicate products such as glass and industries with stringent norms and restrictions. Although almost all manufacturers of pneumatic end effectors offer electric grippers, Robotiq (Canada) and Schunk (Germany) offer servo-electric 2-finger parallel grippers with touchscreen GUI displays for monitoring and troubleshooting.

 

Geographical Analysis

North America dominates the global robotics grippers market and is potently expected to remain dominant in the market throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the rising adoption of robotic grippers in various industries such as automobile and logistics in the region.

According to a report published by Association for Advancing Automation in February 2022, around 39,708 units of robots, valued at USD 2 billion were installed in North America in 2021.  Additionally, technological advancements and research initiatives in the field of robotics and automation contribute to the growth of the robotic grippers market in North America.

The region boasts a thriving ecosystem of research institutions, universities, and technology companies that are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge gripper technologies. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry drive innovation in gripper design, functionality, and performance, enabling North American manufacturers to access state-of-the-art solutions that enhance their competitiveness in the global market.

Moreover, the presence of key market players in the region such as ATI Industrial Automation, Applied Robotics and others which are driving innovation and expansion in the region are fueling the growth of the market. For example, Applied Robotics introduced a new line of electric grippers in May 2022, aimed at addressing automation challenges without relying on air systems. These grippers are engineered to deliver the same level of precision and reliability while reducing energy consumption, thereby appealing to a wide range of industries seeking more sustainable automation solutions.

On the other hand, the Asia Pacific region continues to be a driving force in the global robotic grippers market, with significant growth attributed to robust demand and adoption of robotics technologies across various industries. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), Asia accounted for 73% of all newly deployed robots in 2022, with China leading the way in terms of market size and growth. China stands out as the largest market for robotics globally, accounting for a substantial portion of the region's installations. In 2022, annual robot installations in China reached 290,258 units, representing a remarkable 5% increase from the previous year. This surge in installations underscores China's commitment to automation and its rapid industrialization efforts. The country's strong manufacturing base, coupled with government initiatives to promote automation and innovation, has fueled the adoption of robotic technologies across various sectors, including automotive, electronics, and logistics.

Furthermore, Japan also witnessed significant growth in robot installations, reflecting the country's continued focus on technological advancement and industrial automation. Annual installations in Japan rose by 9% to 50,413 units in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. This resurgence in robot deployments highlights the region’s resilience and adaptability in leveraging robotics to enhance manufacturing efficiency and competitiveness.

 

Competitive Landscape

The robotics grippers market includes several market players such as SCHUNK GmbH And Co KG, Festo SE And Co KG, SMC Corporation, Zimmer Group, Piab AB, Schmalz GmbH, OnRobot A/S, Robotiq Inc, ATI Industrial Automation, Weiss Robotics, Gimatic S.r.l, COVAL SAS, Camozzi Automation, Destaco LLC, Grabit Inc, RightHand Robotics, Barrett Technology, Shadow Robot Company, Parker Hannifin Corporation, FIPA GmbH. These market players are adopting various strategies such as innovation and collaboration to maintain their dominance in the global robotics grippers market.

For instance, in September 2023, Robotiq Inc. unveiled its latest addition to its product lineup, the PE20 palletizing system. This system features Robotiq's PowerPick20 vacuum gripper, renowned for its exceptional performance and versatility. With a high payload to weight ratio, the gripper enables users to maximize the net UR20 lift capacity to 18 kg.

Moreover, in March 2023, Destaco unveiled a new portfolio of end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), designed to help customers using collaborative robots and small-payload robots. The tools can be used to complete gripping, palletizing, machine tending, tool changing, and tool-extension applications.

Key Market Segments

By Type

• Mechanical Finger Gripper

  • Two Finger Angular

  • Two Finger Parallel

  • Three Finger Centric

  • Other multi-Finger

• Vacuum Suction Gripper

• Magnetic Gripper

• Soft Robotic Gripper

• Special Purpose Gripper

By Actuation Method

• Electric

• Pneumatic

• Hydraulic

• Passive

By Payload Capacity

• Low Payload (Under 1 Kg)

• Medium Payload (1 - 10 Kg)

• High Payload (10 - 100 Kg)

• Very High Payload (Over 100 Kg)

By Operational Environment

• Standard Industrial

• Cleanroom

• Washdown and Food Grade

• Hazardous and Extreme

By Application

• Material Handling

• Assembly

• Packaging and Palletizing

• Machine Tending

• Other Applications

By Distribution Channel

• OEM

• Integrator

• Distributor and Reseller

• Direct To End User

• Aftermarket and Service

By End User Industry

• Automotive

• Electronics and Semiconductors

• Food and Beverage

• Pharmaceuticals and Medical

• Logistics and Warehousing

• Other Industries

By Region

• North America

  • U.S

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Europe

  • UK

  • Germany

  • France    

  • Italy

  • Spain

  • Denmark

  • Netherlands

  • Finland

  • Sweden

  • Norway

  • Russia

  • Rest of Europe

• Asia-Pacific

  • China

  • Japan

  • India

  • South Korea

  • Australia

  • Indonesia

  • Singapore

  • Taiwan

  • Thailand

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific

• Rest of the World (RoW)

  • Latin America

  • Middle East

  • Africa

Key Players

• SCHUNK GmbH And Co KG

• Festo SE And Co KG

• SMC Corporation

• Zimmer Group

• Piab AB

• Schmalz GmbH

• OnRobot A/S

• Robotiq Inc.

• ATI Industrial Automation

• Weiss Robotics

• Gimatic S.r.l.

• COVAL SAS

• Camozzi Automation

• Destaco LLC

• Grabit Inc.

• RightHand Robotics

• Barrett Technology

• Shadow Robot Company

• Parker Hannifin Corporation

• FIPA GmbH

Report Scope and Segmentation