A record number of robots were put to work across North America in 2018, report says

Robots took on a record number of jobs in North American firms last year, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) said Thursday. According to the RIA's data, 35,880 robots were shipped in 2018 to the U.S., Canada and Mexico, up 7 percent from the previous year. Of those shipments, 16,702 were to non-automotive companies -- a year-on-year increase of 41 percent. The consumer goods sector purchased almost 50 percent more robots in 2018 than in 2017, while life sciences saw an increase of a third. However, shipments to the automotive industry slowed by 12 percent.