HowToRobot.com Brings Global Automation Marketplace to Spain

HowToRobot.com today said it is opening a new office in Barcelona. The global automation marketplace said its expansion aims to foster connections between local manufacturers seeking automation solutions and suppliers from Spain and beyond.

The move acknowledges Spain’s growing relevance in global robotics and the increasing need for the Spanish manufacturing industry to automate, according to Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot.com. Notably, Spain observed a 25% increase in industrial robot sales in 2022 as reported by AER Automation, the Spanish Association of Robotics and Automation.

"Global competition is driving an increasing number of manufacturers in Spain towards automation," Søren Peters said. "Still, a major challenge is how to find and implement suitable solutions, which is what our marketplace helps solve."

Automation demand grows

Boosting the level of automation in Spain has become critical, according to Alex Salvador, managing director of AER Automation. Businesses might lose out to the competition without it, he said.

“It’s a matter of survival," asserted Salvador. "Without automation and robotics to increase productivity, Spanish companies are at risk of losing their competitive edge, especially considering the increasing scarcity of labor for certain types of jobs."

Spain is the world’s 14th largest robot market, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Yet, a considerable number of Spanish companies, particularly smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have not yet automated and need support to get started, Salvador added.

”Many businesses are still not aware of how much they could gain from automation, how far the technology has come today, and how ease of implementation has improved," he said. "Getting more public knowledge about this is essential."

About HowToRobot

Founded in 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark, HowToRobot.com offers a platform where manufacturers can specify their automation projects and suppliers can present matching solutions. The company, which has a U.S. office in Chicago, provides free guidance to businesses through the process of finding and buying solutions from its global network of over 16,000 robot and automation companies – more than 380 in Spain alone.

This provides businesses with a clear understanding of their automation options and costs, which is key for wider adoption of automation in the industry, said Søren Peters.

HowToRobot said its marketplace can not only help Spanish manufacturers discover suitable automation solutions and suppliers, but it can also aid Spanish automation businesses in expanding their reach both locally and internationally.