Robotization in the Japanese automotive industry

Describes the robotization of the Japanese automotive industry. The automot ive industry is still the major segment of the industrial robot market in J apan. At the moment, however, annual shipments of industrial robots to the industry are at only 60 per cent of the peak in 1991. This reflects the str uggling Japanese economy and low capital investment in domestic car product ion. Robot applications in car production processes seem to have reached sa turation. No new big applications fan be expected. Prompt recovery is unlik ely.