From the period 2022 to 2028, the Global Food Robotics Market is expected to reach USD 3,795.4 Million in terms of revenue, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.80%.

The Food Robotics market is being driven by the transformation of the food and beverage sector with the adoption of automated technologies and the rising demand for high-quality and ready-to-eat food. A major reason driving demand for robotics in this sector is the need for productivity and efficiency in food processing tasks such as palletizing, packaging, and grading in order to achieve food safety standards. Automated food packaging promotes food protection and preservation by reducing the likelihood of contamination due to human contact and environmental factors. With raw material costs rising and retailer pressure increasing, robots are becoming more appealing options in the packaging industry.

Key Highlights from the Report

• The Food Robotics market is divided into three groups based on payload: high, low, and medium payload. During the forecast period, the low payload segment is expected to grow at the fastest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). The rapid growth of this segment is primarily due to its expertise in pick-and-place, food handling, packaging and palletizing, sealing, labelling, and spraying, among other things. Furthermore, it shortens the cycle time and boosts productivity.

• Based on Function, the market has been segmented into Palletizing, Packaging, Repackaging, Picking, Processing and Other functions (Grading, sorting & defect removal). During the forecast period, the packaging and repacking segment is expected to grow at the fastest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). The rapid growth of this segment is primarily due to the extensive use of packaging, which reduces cycle times and increases productivity.

• Asia Pacific is the fastest regional segment. In terms of growth. During the forecast period, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market. The demand for RTE foods is increasing as a result of the region's high population and changing lifestyles. Automation in the production and processing of RTE foods in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive growth in the Food Robotics market. The rapid growth of the Food Robotics market in the Asia-Pacific region can also be attributed to rising concerns about food hygiene and lifestyle, which has steered the population toward ready-to-eat and packaged food items. Consumer income growth has fueled demand for advanced packaged food and beverages throughout the region. China is the Asia-Pacific region's leader in food adoption.

Some of the key players in the Food Robotics Market include - ABB Group (Switzerland), KUKA AG (Germany), Fanuc Corporation (Japan), Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan), Rockwell Automation Inc. (U.S.), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Yasakawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Denso Corporation (Japan), Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation (Japan), OMRON Corporation (Japan), Universal Robots A/S (Denmark), Staubli International AG (Switzerland), Bastian Solutions LLC (U.S.), Schunk GmbH (Germany), Asic Robotics AG (Switzerland), Mayekawa Mfg. Co. Ltd. (Japan), Apex Automation & Robotics (Australia), Aurotek Corporation (Taiwan), Ellison Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Fuji Robotics (Japan), Moley Robotics (U.K.).

Market Dynamics:

Growing demand for packaged food

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for food packaging in order to increase shelf life and meet the demand for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products. The market for Food Robotics has been driven by the mass production of packaged food products, particularly in countries such as the United States, Japan, France, and Italy. Most large-scale food manufacturing plants are automating processes to ensure SKU quality and consistency. Processed, frozen, dry, and chilled packaged foods are increasingly being made by Food Robotics. The expansion of the packaged dairy and baked goods industries is also propelling the Food Robotics market, as these products are manufactured on a large scale across regions. Robots are becoming increasingly popular as a means of ensuring a safe and hygienic food manufacturing process.

Increasing functionality of robots

Traditionally, the functionality and application of robots were restricted to the heavy payloads in transportation equipment manufacturing. However, as robot functionality improves, more industries, such as the food processing industry, are adopting automation using primarily low payload robots. In order to meet health authority standards, sections of the food and beverage industry such as dairy and bakeries are minimizing human contact in the production process. The Food Robotics market has the potential to expand as robot functionality expands to include packaging, repackaging, and palletizing. Increasing robots’ integration in food processing to reduce production errors will save time and space.

The North American market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period, with a market share of 41.70%, as the region's high demand for packaged food contributes to the growth of the Food Robotics market. Government regulations and rising labor costs have prompted the region's food production to adopt robotics and automation systems. The food packaging industry is being driven by urban lifestyle changes, rising disposable income, the growing trend of nuclear families, and modern retail trade. As a result, global demand for packaged food has increased, presenting an appealing market opportunity for the food robots industry. Robots are used in the sorting and packaging processes of many market participants. Robot palletizing and depalletizing systems have been developed by Robot Systems, a company based in the United States.