Assembly - December 2008 - (Page 26) Capital Spending How It’s Spent Equipment type Pct. of plants to buy 23 31 52 29 30 57 36 15 39 20 13 48 50 45 13 45 33 9 Automated dispensing Multistation assembly systems Single-station assembly machines Parts feeding and positioning Conveyors and material handling Power tools Bar coding and auto ID Motion control equipment Welding, soldering and brazing Robots PCB assembly equipment Computers and software Test equipment Inspection equipment Wire processing Workstations and accessories Packaging equipment Other TOTAL wait 2 years or more to get payback on new technology. Today, only 43 percent can wait that long, the lowest percentage in 5 years. Spending on assembly technology may have been flat this year, but at least assemblers spent most of what they planned. In August—when most of our surveys were completed—58 percent of our respondents had spent at least 70 percent of their 2008 equipment budgets. That’s still well below historic levels—84 percent of assemblers did so in 1998, for example—but it’s the biggest percentage in five years. item on assemblers’ wish lists for 10 of the past 12 years, and next year will be no exception. Pct. of total Est. total dollars Pct. change However, assemblers won’t spending spent ($M) from 2008 spend quite as much on tools as spending they did this year. Fifty-seven percent of respondents will buy 3 77 8.9 power tools in 2009, the same percentage as in 2008. But, total 20 566.9 1 spending on pneumatic, electric and cordless screwdrivers and nutrunners will decrease 3 10 295.5 20.1 percent, from $226.3 million in 2008 to $219 million in 2009. 4 123.6 6.6 Spending on single-station assembly machines will continue to grow. In fact, 52 percent of 5 130.5 28.2 plants will purchase single-sta8 219 -3.2 tion assembly machines in 2009, an all-time high percentage for 4 109.2 -8.1 this technology. Specifically, 2 52.5 -19.4 30 percent of assemblers will purchase presses, 34 percent will get automatic screwdriving 8 244.6 -15.1 equipment, and 8 percent will 5 135.1 19.3 buy impact riveters and orbital and radial forming machines. All 3 94.8 -14.1 totaled, our readers will spend 6 187 -8.2 $295.5 million on single-station assembly machines in 2009, a 20 8 235 23.7 percent increase from 2008. 5 146.6 8.6 Robots will be another growth technology in 2009. 2 65.9 -16.8 Twenty percent of assemblers plan to buy Cartesian, SCARA, 2 67.5 -3.2 six-axis or delta robots next 4 114.3 -2.2 year. That compares with 15 percent in 2008, and it’s the 1 17 0.6 highest percentage for this tech100 2,882 1.9 nology since 2000. All totaled, spending on robots will add up What Assemblers Want to $135.1 million in 2009, a 19 percent For the first time in our survey, increase from 2008. welding, brazing and soldering equipSuppliers of conveyors and material ment will not be among the five most handling equipment can also expect a sought-after assembly technologies good year. Thirty percent of respondents next year. Just 39 percent of assemblers will purchase pallet-transfer conveyors, will purchase such technology in 2009, flow racks, automated guided vehicles compared with 54 percent in 2008 and a and other technology next year, up from high of 60 percent in 2004. All totaled, 26 percent in 2008. Material handling spending on resistance welders, ultra- equipment will account for 5 percent of sonic welders, brazing ovens and other all spending in 2009, increasing from technology will decrease 15 percent, $101.8 million in 2008 to $130.5 milfrom $288 million in 2008 to $244.6 lion in 2009. million in 2009. Systems integrators should see Power tools have been the No. 1 modest sales growth. Some 31 percent 26 ASSEMBLY / December 2008 www.assemblymag.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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