Robotic Grippers Market by Type ( Vacuum Grippers, Hydraulic Grippers, Electric Grippers, Pneumatic Grippers, Magnetic Grippers, and Servo-Electric Grippers), by Design by Application (Material Handling, General Assembly, Dispensing, Inspection, Processing, and Others), and by Vertical– Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022–2030

Market Definition

The Robotic Gripper Market size was valued at USD 1.16 billion in 2021 and is predicted to reach USD 3.03 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2022 to 2030.

A robotic gripper is an end-effector or manipulator used by robots to pick up objects and hold them. Manufacturers can automate key procedures such as inspection, assembly, pick & place, and machine tending using grippers. In industrial robots, grippers are attached to the arms and assist in a variety of tasks.

The devices assist in holding objects and carrying out multiple actions, including holding, tightening, moving, and releasing. A material-handling robot can reduce the risk of part damage, which is one of its many advantages. It is possible to grade and handle materials effectively with the help of these grippers. A robot’s gripper functions similarly to a human hand but with less effort. Robotic grippers reduce the likelihood of human error.

Many types of grippers are available for use with UR robots. There are, however, some grippers whose designs closely resemble human hands, including their five fingers. A variety of grippers are available, including two- and three-finger grippers, claw-shaped grippers, mechanical grippers, grippers with large suction cups, and even grippers that look like air-filled bags. Robotic grippers can be used in hot environments and in locations where manual labor is difficult.

The grippers may be used to transport tools, work components, bottles, or other items. It can be operated by vacuum, mechanical, or magnetic cups. A common use of this device is to pick up suspicious or dangerous items. In addition, automation is becoming more prevalent across a wide range of industries worldwide as manufacturers focus on improving their productivity, lowering total costs, and increasing efficiency. IoT and AI are certainly changing the current industrial ecosystem through intelligent technologies.

The emergence of smart technologies for robotic grippers to enhance productivity and efficiency

Several technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, have contributed to the development of industrial robotics. Pick-and-place operations in smart factories will be more reliable if manufacturers offer several types of grippers. Because of their modularity, the grippers won’t need to be replaced frequently. Therefore, the cost of changing and replacing parts and the subsequent production downtime should be decreased. As a result of sophisticated technologies, producers are now able to create grippers that are unique and tailored for a variety of purposes.

A growing number of industries are utilizing robotic grippers with flexible fingers, as they are extremely effective at grabbing objects of various sizes and shapes. Three-dimensional printed robot grippers are being developed by manufacturers. Due to Industry 4.0 robotics developments, new robots now feature smart sensors that continuously gather gripper performance data.

Additionally, emerging gripper-actuating systems can automatically change gripper movements using data from the force, torque, and proximity sensors. The system may generally contribute to safer handling and increased gripper precision. Intelligent grippers are well-suited to environments where delicate objects need to be handled carefully.

Increasing adoption of robotic grippers owing to the benefits of better flexibility and functionality in multiple industries

Automobiles, electronics, food & beverage, and other major industries are focusing on industrial robots and automation in order to increase efficiency, streamline processes, and maximize output. Various industrial tasks can be accomplished with robotic grippers, including material handling, warehouse management, packing, and shipping.

Robotic grippers are increasingly used in e-commerce as well. Especially in the automotive industry, advanced robotic grippers are widely used to ensure the quality of goods. Robotic grippers can also serve multiple purposes for complex manufacturing processes such as spot welding in an assembly or spray painting with uniform paint jobs.

A wide range of industries use robotic grippers, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Pneumatic grippers that are lightweight and compact are available. Additionally, pneumatic grippers are easy to install in confined areas. In the oil and gas sector, hydraulic grippers are widely used because of their strength. Additionally, robotic pincers  are used in the electrical and electronics industries, where delicate and small components, such as computer chips, batteries, and screens, need to be handled precisely.

Interoperability issues along with a lack of skilled labor to operate robotic grippers

It is essential that every manufacturing facility or factory has interoperability. For hardware and software to coordinate and link different robotic gripper systems, there needs to be a 3Dlar framework. Hardware interoperability between the end effector and robot arm is also a major focus, along with software for programming, diagnosing, and monitoring.

There have been cases when clients purchased robot arms and end effectors separately that were not entirely compatible, resulting in extremely difficult configurations. SMEs face major problems when it comes to interoperability due to their particular needs and lack of employees to set up a complex automation setup. Interoperability continues to be an issue as new end effectors and use cases are developed, and the software is frequently updated to address concerns.

Introduction of plug-and-play technology in robotic grippers to overcome interoperability problems

In many robots, plug-and-play functionality has been incorporated to reduce concerns about interoperability. For instance, Universal Robots introduced the UR+ platform, which allows the integration of end effectors from numerous third-party companies, including Robotiq (Canada) and Piab (Sweden), as well as robot arms from Soft Robotics (US) and Schunk (Germany).

This can also be observed in the case of collaborative robots, where the end effector manufacturer collaborates with the robot arm manufacturer for seamless integration. Robotiq Configurator, an online platform provided by Robotiq (Canada), allows customers to select the combination of end effectors that best suits their application.

Asia-Pacific held the largest robotic grippers market share backed by substantial manufacturing industries

Presence of large manufacturing industries in countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea are constantly improving their production capacity to cope with the rising consumer demand. Also, the constantly rising population in these countries further boosts the demand for consumer goods, which has led to the adoption of robotics in industries. Industrial robots and collaborative robots equipped with different types of robotic grippers are widely utilized across manufacturing industries to increase efficiency in several applications, such as pelletizing or depalletizing, shorting, assembling, and product handling.

Moreover, increasing labor shortages in countries such as China, Malaysia, and Singapore have further influenced the adoption of robots and robotic grippers in Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, the presence of leading robotic gripper manufacturers such as Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Robotics Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and in Asia-Pacific further boost the market growth in the region.

For instance, in April 2021, Yaskawa Electric Corporation launched the MOTOMAN Smart Series robot and gripper tools as a plug & play system. The Smart Series offers ready-made packages that include all accessories, such as gripper elements, adapter flanges, communication cables, and plugs from different manufacturers for easy integration.

Europe is expected to show steady growth in the robotic grippers market

High adoption of robots and robotic grippers across the automotive and food & beverage industry in Europe. The automotive industry is one of the largest and growing industries in Europe. Moreover, the high demand for electric vehicles in European countries has forced manufacturers to increase their production capabilities in the region. Thus, the increasing use of automation in automotive manufacturing facilities has increased the demand for industrial robots along with robotic grippers.

Manufacturing, assembly, and production of EV lithium-ion batteries require several automation processes to transform the product from individual cells into battery modules. Different types of robotic grippers are utilized in EV manufacturing for such applications, including battery pack handling and assembly of battery modules in an array to produce battery packs. Furthermore, collaborative robots equipped with robotic grippers are used for heavy lifting and complex tasks such as the installation of cooling hose assembly, battery frame assembly, and installation of the cooling tray.

In addition, several leading automotive manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Volvo Cars are investing heavily in Europe and expanding their business to cope with the high demand for electric vehicles. For instance, in July 2022, Volvo Cars announced that the company would build a new manufacturing plant in Europe to meet the continued demand from its customers for electric cars and capture future growth potential. The new plant will be climate-neutral and build only electric cars. These are the factors expected to create a high demand for industrial robots along with robotic grippers in Europe, in turn driving the growth of the market.

In addition, the presence of key market players such as Schunk Gmbh & Co. KG, Festo, Piab AB, and ABB Ltd. further boosts the market growth in the region. These robotic gripper manufacturers have undertaken rigorous research and development activities and launched numerous products that further increase the adoption of grippers in Europe.

For instance, in June 2022, Schunk Gmbh & Co. showcased a new energy-efficient gripping system with new technology that uses reversible adhesives. This new gripping system uses millions of tiny polymer chains to act like adhesive hairs that allow it to grip several different surfaces without the use of external energy such as pneumatic or electrical.

Competitive Landscape

Various market players operating in the robotic grippers industry include Schunk GmbH & Co. KG, Festo, Kuka AG, Piab AB, Destaco, Schmalz, ABB Ltd., AFAG, OnRobot A/S, and PHD Inc. These market players are adopting several strategies and launching numerous products across various regions to maintain their dominance in the global market.

For instance, in October 2022, Schunk GmbH & Co. KG announced the launch of a pneumatic PLG 2-finger parallel gripper and an electric ELG long-stroke gripper. These two new configurable standard grippers will be used for handling large, heavy parts in automotive or logistics industries.

Moreover, in January 2022, Piab AB launched a gripper called piSOFTGRIP 100-4, increasing the product portfolio of its existing piSOFTGRIP lineup of vacuum four-finger grippers. It is developed especially for food industry automation and also offers capabilities such as handling odd-shaped machine parts and removing injection molded parts.

Robotic Gripper Market Key Segments:

By Type

• Vacuum Grippers

• Hydraulic Grippers

• Electric Grippers

• Pneumatic Grippers

• Magnetic Grippers

• Servo-Electric Grippers

By Design

• 2-Jaw Grippers

• Angular & 3-Jaw Grippers

• Flexible Fingers

• O-Ring Grippers

• Needle Grippers

By Application

• Material Handling

• General Assembly

• Dispensing

• Inspection

• Processing

• Others

By Vertical

• Packaging

• Automotive

• Electrical & Electronics

• Plastic, Rubber, & Chemicals

• Metals & Machinery

• Food & Beverages

• Precision Engineering & Optics

• Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics

• Others

By Geography

• North America    

  • U.S.

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Europe    

  • UK

  • Germany

  • France

  • Spain

  • Italy

  • Netherlands

  • Denmark

  • Finland

  • Norway

  • Sweden

  • Rest of Europe

• Asia-Pacific    

  • China

  • Japan

  • India

  • Australia

  • South Korea

  • Taiwan 

  • Singapore

  • Vietnam

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific

• Rest of World

  • Latin America

  • Middle East

  • Africa

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