North American Manufacturers of Industrial Robotics Alter Production Strategies to Compete Against Low-Priced Foreign Products.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- With manufacturers from low-cost regions such as Asia Pacific moving into North America with their cheap products in the markets of flat display panels, electronic storage media, and semiconductor devices, domestic manufacturers are adopting cost-reduction strategies. This tactic compels the robotics manufacturers of North America to change their production strategies to compete on price and increase the adoption of robotics into manufacturing of these equipments.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.industrialautomation.frost.com), North American Industrial Robotics Market for Cleanroom Applications, reveals that the market generated revenue worth $40.8 million in 2004. This expects to reach $86.3 million in 2011.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end-users and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the North American Industrial Robotics Market for Cleanroom Applications -- then send an email to Trisha Bradley -- Corporate Communications at [e-mail] with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number and email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you via e-mail.

Since robotics requires huge capital, TV manufacturers and other end users seek less expensive semi-automation solutions, which however, do not provide the flexibility, easy installation, and programmability of robotics.

Due to a glut of products from TV manufacturers in South Korea, Taiwan, China, and other Asia Pacific countries that have the advantage of cheap labor, U.S. TV manufacturers search for short-term solutions that can reduce costs and increase profit margins.

"Only a few companies indulge in long-term planning of requirements and goals," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Kishan Bhat M. "This trend has developed because TV manufacturers look for solutions that can produce results quickly, and which can be reflected in their return on investment."

The sector that has been worst affected by these pricing pressures from overseas competitors is the semiconductors industry. As end-user awareness of the advantages of robotics increases, there is likely to be a corresponding rise in the adoption rates of cleanroom robots.

"Recently, many awareness activities were initiated with the help of trade associations such as Robotics Industries Association (RIA) and Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA)," says Bhat. "These organizations conduct trade shows and other programs, where advantages of robotics in cleanroom applications are highlighted."

Cleanroom robotics receive a new lease of opportunities with the semiconductors industry's significant transition in wafer standards from 200 mm to 300 mm. End-user manufacturers are increasingly adopting this standard even though the transition is likely to require several changes in the production line.

This willingness to shift standards is partly prompted by most of the equipment used in 200 mm having become obsolete already. With the advancement of technology, and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) machine processing tasks' growing use of robotics, cleanroom robotics expects to see a surge in sales.

"Cleanroom robots are used for machine loading, unloading, transfer of parts as well as assembling, packaging, and testing of wafers," notes Bhat. "Robotics expects to be extensively used in handling of these wafers on CMP machines and in other applications such as photolithography and ion implantation."

North American Industrial Robotics Markets for Cleanroom Applications, a part of the 9401 subscription, gives an overview and update of the North American industrial robotics market for cleanroom applications. The study has been divided into four segments based on end-user application: flat display panel handling, electronic storage media, semiconductors industry, and medical and pharmaceuticals. It enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from the changing markets and obtain maximum return on investment. Interviews of the analyst and executive summaries are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community, by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.

North American Industrial Robotics Markets for Cleanroom Applications

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Keywords in this release: industrial robotics, cleanroom applications, North America, semi-automation solutions, flat display panel handling, electronic storage media, semiconductor, medical, pharmaceuticals, wafer standards, 200 mm, 300 mm, chemical mechanical planarization, CMP, photolithography, ion implantation, research, information, market, trends, technology, service, forecast