The North American robotics market has set new records to begin 2016, according to Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.

A total of 7,406 robots valued at approximately $402 million were ordered from North American companies during the first quarter of 2016. The number of units ordered in the first three months of 2016 is a new record among opening quarters, growing seven percent over the same period in 2015. Order revenue, however, decreased by eight percent in the first quarter. Robot shipments also set a new opening quarter record, with 7,125 robots valued at $448 million being shipped to North American customers. This represents growth of two percent in units and 21 percent in dollars over the same quarter of last year.

“It is encouraging to see so many new companies adopting robotics for use in their operations,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of RIA. “Companies of all sizes are realizing that robots are more affordable than ever before and can help them increase their productivity to remain competitive in today’s global economy.”

Growth in non-automotive industries soared in the first quarter of 2016. Robots ordered by the semiconductor and electronics (90 percent), food and consumer goods (82 percent), and plastics and rubber (44 percent) industries all experienced sizable increases over the same period in 2015. While it is still the largest industry in terms of volume for robotics, orders to the automotive industry grew only one percent in the first quarter of 2016. In terms of applications, the biggest increases were realized in spot welding (31 percent), assembly (15 percent), and material handling (six percent).

“As the technology behind robots is evolving, the number of tasks they are able to perform is increasing,” said Burnstein. “Today more than ever, robots can handle complex tasks at fast speeds, leading to high productivity for customers. Disruptive innovations like collaborative robots are helping to drive adoption of robotics in new and exciting ways, and that is promising for the future of our industry.”