Getty Images
The Netherlands has become a major agricultural producer through the development and use of robotics innovations, said HowToRobotics.
Get news, papers, media and research delivered. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Stay up-to-date with news and resources you need to do your job. Research industry trends, compare companies and get weekly market intelligence with Robotics 24/7.
Getty Images
The Netherlands has become a major agricultural producer through the development and use of robotics innovations, said HowToRobotics.
The robotics and automation industry in the Netherlands is booming, with new systems and companies, according to a new report from HowToRobot.com. The automation marketplace analyzed suppliers and found that the Netherlands remains a hub for innovation in the industry.
HowToRobot.com collaborated with the High Tech NL cluster Robotics (also known as Holland Robotics) and independent advisor Gain & Co. The company reported that the number of robotics suppliers in the Netherlands "has grown significantly."
For each of the past 12 years, an average of 11 new companies was established in the Netherlands -- a 57% increase from the number of businesses formed in the prior period. The study attributed this growth to factors including the country’s highly skilled workforce, a strong focus on innovation, and an increasing demand for automation from businesses experiencing labor shortages and competitive pressure.
"There are a lot of up-and-coming robot and automation companies in the Netherlands that will be interesting to watch,” stated Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot.com. "The rate of new businesses opening makes it clear that it is a market that can’t be ignored."
According to the report, there are 350 primary robot and automation suppliers operating in the Netherlands. No less than 37% of them were established in the past 12 years.
“We’re seeing a trend among younger companies to develop and manufacture robot technologies and solutions,” said Thijs Dorssers, manager at High Tech NL cluster Robotics. "Many of these serve industries and applications where automation is still relatively new and not yet employed widely."
The Netherlands has become the world's second largest exporter of food by value after the U.S., largely thanks to its support of technological innovation. Not surprisingly, farming robots are seeing fast-growing interest, with 74 Dutch businesses specializing in agricultural and forestry systems. That number has doubled in the past 12 years, according to the report.
Agriculture is now ahead of the automotive industry, which has historically employed the most robots, in number of automation suppliers in the country. Examples of Dutch-developed systems include the following:
The report also noted interest in automation in aerospace, logistics, inspection and quality assurance, landscaping and gardening, and cleaning and disinfection.
“Many of the automation solutions developed are still at an early stage,” noted Dorssers. "With further commercialization and access to funding, there will be growing export potential among automation suppliers in the Netherlands."
“Market Analysis of Robot and Automation Firms in the Netherlands 2023” is available via HowToRobot.com, including a free preview. The report is published by HowToRobot published the report, which contains market insights from High Tech NL cluster Robotics, which last May celebrated its fifth anniversary. The insights include interest from small and midsize enterprises (SMEs).
The study also includes statistics and information on 350 robotics and automation companies. They included robot manufacturers, integrators, distributors, sub-component suppliers, and advisors researched by HowToRobot and Gain & Co. Here is a breakdown of some of the statistics in the report:
Type of suppliers in the Netherlands:
Top industries in the Netherlands that most robot and automation companies are supplying to:
Top solution types offered by most robot and automation suppliers in the Netherlands
HowToRobot enables robotics to get offers and compare prices on any type of robot.
From geometry preparation to AI-assisted analysis, integrated CFD workflows…
Software-based GripperAI manages mixed picking through basic geometry
Safety, communication and motion control components enable smooth operation
North America’s largest robotics and automation event winds down