The Annual Study of the Professional Association of Robotics and Automation (PARA) for Automation in Bulgaria Is Now Available for Download

The Professional Association of Robotics and Automation (PARA) presented its latest report on the role of automation in Bulgaria during the “Robotics Strategy Forum 2020”, which took place on 22 October. 

PARA has prepared the report for the third consecutive year through a survey among Bulgarian companies. This year, the report also includes an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and how it has affected the industry’s plans to invest in automation. 

The results are based on 32 companies’ answers with nearly 15,000 employees from the sectors of automotive components, furniture, electronics, mechanical engineering, and others. The Association emphasizes that the survey does not claim the representativeness of the sample. Some of the main highlights include:

– 50% of the companies claim a delay or complete postponement of automation investments due to the pandemic. Half of these companies are in the automotive sector.

– Still, there are companies – 19% of all, in which the pandemic has accelerated the process. Among them are representatives of the chemical-, smart home sensors companies, manufacturers of microelectronics.

– 44% consider implementing software and discrete automation.

– Companies want to automate mostly the production process, data collection and processing, administration, and quality control.

– The automotive industry remains the main user of industrial robots in Bulgaria – an average of one robot per 45.85 employees help in 4 factories for automotive components; in mechanical engineering, the food industry, automation, and household appliances, one robot assists 70.66 employees in the company.

– The primary incentive for investment in robotic systems is quality, cost optimization, and workforce lack.

Find more data from the survey in the PARA blog here and in the video from the opening session of the “Robotics Strategy Forum 2020”. Watch all videos on PARA’s YouTube channel here.