Clean Room Robot Market: Global Size, Share, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2022-2032

Clean Room Robot Market: Overview and Definition

The global clean room robot market is expected to grow from USD 4.7 billion in 2022 to USD over 8.8 billion by 2030; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.5% during the forecast period 2022-2030. 

An industrial cleanroom is a room which controls and prevents levels of dust, airborne particles, vapors, and moisture from entering and contaminating the equipment’s and the room. Specialized cleanroom robots are often used to lessen or remove any additional contamination and are required to meet specific cleanroom standards. They are generally utilized in pharmaceutical and medical cleanroom submissions where human contact requires to be minimized. Automating cleanroom processes aid in increasing production volume, reducing cycle times, and decreasing manufacturers' costs among other advantages.

Depending on harness requirements and application, cleanroom robots can be selected but they all must meet strict cleanroom certifications.

The demand for clean room robots is increasing at a stupendous rate with the growth of various industries including Aerospace, Electrical and Electronics, Plastics, Rubber & Chemicals, Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics, and Optics.

Clean Room Robot Market: Key Drivers

There are several factors driving the growth of the clean room robot market:

Increasing demand for high-purity products: Clean rooms are used in various industries to produce and process high-purity products such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products, and semiconductors. The demand for these products is increasing, driving the growth of the clean room robot market.

Need for improved manufacturing processes: The use of robots in clean rooms helps to improve manufacturing processes by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing human exposure to hazardous materials. This is a key driver of the growth of the clean room robot market.

Growing semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries: The semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries are growing, and the use of robots in these industries is increasing to meet the demand for high-purity products and improve manufacturing processes.

Advances in technology: Technological advancements in robotics and automation are enabling the development of new and advanced clean room robots that can perform a wider range of tasks in these controlled environments.

Government regulations: Governments around the world are implementing regulations to improve worker safety and reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous materials. The use of robots in clean rooms helps companies comply with these regulations.

The growth of this market is attributed towards major relying factors including; the increasing demand for clean room robots from electronics & electrical industry, the globally increasing hygiene standards, the surging demand for clean room robots due to the COVID-19 outbreak in industries such as food & beverages and pharmaceutical, the high demand for contaminant-free machines and equipment in clean rooms, increase in need to pass goods and materials between areas of different environmental grades through material air locks (MAL) and the increase in adoption of collaborative robots for clean room applications etc.

Additionally, the measures and guidelines implemented by several government organizations for hygiene standards have further compelled the companies to adopt clean room robots. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that the areas immediately adjacent to the aseptic processing line meet at least ISO Class 7 standards under dynamic conditions in the pharmaceutical industry.  These guidelines ensure safety and enhance the growth of this market at a considerable rate.

Moreover, the ever-increasing demand and usage of smart devices, wireless, and cloud technology influence the future of robots in terms of range of utility and mode of operation. Key players today are presenting appealing options, such as services and control modules, through smart devices and Wi-Fi technology for industrial robots, including cleanroom robots from remote locations. These developments of IoT and technological enhancements in robotics are set to create ample opportunities for the growth of this market in the next few upcoming years.

Furthermore, due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, many organizations and companies are facing shortage of skilled workforce in manufacturing unit and other workplaces. To address this mounting issue for the future and to reduce dependency on humans for operation, the adoption of clean-room robots is set to increase drastically in the foreseeable future, thus, propelling the growth opportunities for this market comprehensively.

Clean Room Robot Market: Challenges

Despite the significant growth opportunities in the clean room robot market, there are several challenges that companies face:

High costs: Clean room robots are expensive to develop and purchase, and the costs associated with operating these robots in controlled environments can be high. This is a major challenge for companies looking to adopt clean room robots.

Technical difficulties: Clean room robots face technical difficulties such as the need to operate in controlled environments with low levels of pollutants, the need to handle delicate and sensitive materials, and the need for high levels of precision and accuracy.

Limited adoption: Despite the benefits of clean room robots, there is still limited adoption in some industries due to concerns over costs, technical difficulties, and a lack of awareness of the benefits of clean room robots.

Competition from manual labor: In some industries, manual labor is still used in clean rooms, and companies may be reluctant to adopt clean room robots due to concerns over the costs and technical difficulties associated with these robots.

Maintenance and repair: Clean room robots require regular maintenance and repairs, which can be time-consuming and expensive. This is a challenge for companies looking to adopt clean room robots.

Clean Room Robot Market: Segmentation

By Type:

• Articulated Robots
• SCARA Robots
• Parallel Robots
• Cartesian Robots
• Collaborative Robots

By Component:

• Robotic Arm
• End Effectors
  • Grippers
  • Vacuum Cups
  • Clamps
• Drives
  • Pneumatic
  • Electric
• Controllers
• Sensors
• Power Supply
• Motors
• Others

By End User:

• Aerospace
• Electrical and Electronics
• Plastics, Rubber, and Chemicals
• Food and Beverages
• Optics
• Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics
• Others

By Region:

• North America (U.S. & Canada)
• Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe)
• Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and Rest of Asia Pacific)
• Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America)
• Middle East & Africa (GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman), North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

Clean Room Robot Market: Regional Outlook

The clean room robot market is growing across the world, with different regions presenting unique opportunities and challenges. Here is a regional synopsis of the clean room robot market:

North America: North America is a significant market for clean room robots, driven by the presence of leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the region. The market is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing demand for high-purity products and the need for improved manufacturing processes.

Europe: Europe is another significant market for clean room robots, driven by the presence of leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the region. The market is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing demand for high-purity products and the need for improved manufacturing processes.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the clean room robot market, driven by the presence of major semiconductor manufacturers in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The market is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing demand for high-purity products and the need for improved manufacturing processes.

Rest of the World: The clean room robot market is growing in other regions of the world, such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. The market is expected to grow in these regions due to the increasing demand for high-purity products and the need for improved manufacturing processes.

Clean Room Robot Market: Recent Developments

There have been several recent developments in the clean room robot market, including:

Launches of new and advanced clean room robots: Companies are launching new and advanced clean room robots that can perform a wider range of tasks in controlled environments and address the challenges associated with these robots.

Collaborations and partnerships: Companies are collaborating and partnering with other companies in the robotics and automation industries to develop and launch new and advanced clean room robots.

Investments in research and development: Companies are investing in research and development to improve the capabilities and performance of clean room robots and address the challenges associated with these robots.

Expansion into new markets: Companies are expanding into new markets to tap into the growing demand for clean room robots and meet the needs of customers in different regions. 

In August 2019, KUKA launched a mobile clean room robot for the manufacture of semiconductor wafers. The mobile robot helps in the transfer of wafers from one step to another. The mobile manipulation application consists of a standardized automated guided vehicle (AGV) and the proven LBR iiwa lightweight robot.

In October 2020, ABB introduced cleanroom version of IRB 1100 robot (certified to ISO 14644-1) suitable for applications in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, and solar panel manufacturing.

Clean Room Robot Market: Key Players

• Denso Wave Incorporated
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.
• Omron Corporation
• Abb
• Aerotech
• Iai
• Staubli
• Comau
• Yamaha
• Rethink Robotics