Paint Process Automation Market

Market Overview

The global paint process automation market size was valued at USD 3.66 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 9.59 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period (2022-2030). 

Paint process automation is a technique that includes painting and coating equipment, products, and components evenly with automated assembly lines and robots. Even the most attentive workers cannot perform without making errors in industrial painting, one of several areas that have witnessed substantial advancements thanks to automation. However, robotic painting systems offer the reliability required by painting and coating businesses. Such technology is frequently crucial for aiding in the resolution of well-known problems.

Eliminating human error through automation can improve overall quality, which is especially helpful in factories with a labor shortage. Industrial painting can become more efficient overall while maintaining high standards of quality with the help of robotic technology. Additionally, automation can assist painting and coating businesses in following sustainable practices. An organization's framework for ethical operations might include finding ways to cut waste. Paint process automation can assist in achieving that goal.

Market Dynamics

Global Paint Process Automation Market Drivers

• Error-Free and Consistent Results

WB Coatings, a German company, is an example of how automated painting systems may provide the consistency demanded by the painting and coating industries. It created a paint system that gives surfaces like decorative interior vehicle trim a chrome-like finish after applying one to three layers. Even skilled humans cannot achieve the thin, even coating that the product needs. Physical limitations like dwindling strength and loss of focus and energy also restrict humans. Automated systems eliminate the possibility of errors based on human limitations. They are not easily distracted, worn out, or mistake-prone.

• Cost-Savings

Paint process automation saves time and frees up resources to concentrate on tasks and projects with a higher value. Additionally, it might eliminate the need to hire more employees while creating opportunities for current employees to take on new responsibilities and receive training. As a result, costs will be recovered to a greater extent the more manual processes are automated. Paint process automation saves costs in various instances by limiting labor expenses, increasing overall productivity, lowering frequent IT expenditures, reducing over-reliance on third-party services, and mitigating costly data errors. Thus, all these factors lead to faster investment returns and the break-even point as early as possible, driving the painting process automation market.

Global Paint Process Automation Market Restraint

• High Installation Cost

Paint process automation is smart, cost-effective, and can deliver better, rapid, and consistent painting or coating without human intervention. However, the early phase of automation typically entails much higher costs associated with its installation. Latest innovations, such as software update or new materials used in paint process automation that enhance the automation process, also comes with a higher cost. High cost prolongs the return on investment for small-scale companies if they are not looking to expand their businesses in the near future. Thus, small-scale production businesses stick to the manual paint process due to the high installation cost of paint process automation. Hence, it can hamper the market's growth over the forecast period.

Global Paint Process Automation Market Opportunities

• Assists in Achieving Sustainability Objectives

Paint process automation can be used for more than just accelerating digital transformation and increasing operational effectiveness. Additionally, it can be applied for good, more specifically, to improve sustainability. For today's service-oriented manufacturing businesses, like the automotive industry, creating a more sustainable painting process is urgently necessary. Traditional painting process scheduling schemes in the automotive industry typically only consider an enterprise's profits, omitting the need to achieve sustainability objectives.

Paint process automation optimizes the painting and coating process while eliminating the wastage or over-use of painting material. Thus, indirectly saving energy and water usage and reducing solvent emissions. For instance, the BMW production facility in Tiexi, Shenyang, is among the most environmentally friendly automotive paint shops. They save around 41% of total energy, 35% of water usage, and 100% solvent emissions. The technology improves the sustainability of manufacturing by eliminating the need for masking materials and additional ventilation, reducing emissions, and conserving water and energy.

Regional Analysis

The global Paint Process Automation market is bifurcated into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant shareholder in the global paint process automation market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period. The larger share is linked to the presence of mass-production automotive facilities that are contributing heavily to the growth of the painting process automation market in the region. The automotive industry's presence in the region is due to the availability of raw materials, government incentives, and low transportation, energy, and workforce costs. For instance, in March 2021, Dürr AG established a scalable paint shop for an electric vehicle manufacturer in China, which can be expanded in the future to meet the increasing demand.

Furthermore, the government in China is promoting the adoption of robots in production facilities to automate work and increase the speed of production. Similarly, the Union Minister of Heavy Industries stated that India is going to adopt automation processes in the manufacturing facilities to ramp up mass production capacity in India and attract foreign investors. Thus, the growth of the paint process automation market in the region will see exponential growth during the forecast period.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8%, generating USD 1.76 billion during the forecast period. The presence of key automotive manufacturers in the region and reducing the over-dependence on China for its production have increased the investment for rapid automation in Europe. European companies have also contributed to innovative software such as self-programming "SelfPaint," made by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Sweden. The software enables the automated painting of small batches and even single pieces, saves up to 20% on paint, decreases solvent emissions by 20%, finishes the job 5% quicker, and uses 15% less energy than traditional painting techniques. Another advantage is that the automated method performs better reproducibility than manual painting operations. With the increasing competition with China in terms of mass production and to reduce dependency on them, manufacturers are expanding their manufacturing facilities with paint process automation, contributing to the growth of the market in the region.

The North American automotive industry is the highest contributor to the region's growth of paint process automation. The aviation industry is rapidly adopting paint process automation to meet the increasing demand for American-made aircraft worldwide. Furthermore, critical automotive and aviation manufacturers are installing paint process automation in the North American region for rapid production, saving labor costs, and consistency in painting and coating. The growing use of paint process automation in manufacturing and services sectors in North America to meet complex consumer demands is expected to propel market expansion in the region.

LAMEA region is projected to contribute to the growth of the paint process automation market due to rapid technological advancements in UAE and Saudi Arabia. The rampant construction activities in the Middle Eastern oil-rich countries have contributed heavily to the growth of the painting process automation market in the region. In addition, UAE's multinational real estate company Emaar Properties announced that they would be painting luxury high-rise residential buildings with painting robots developed by Singapore-based MYRO international. The Singapore-based company claims to have developed the world's first intelligent wall painting robot, specifically designed to enhance the painting and coating activities for the construction industry. Moreover, the increasing adoption of prefabricated components for building construction in Brazil has also increased the use of paint process automation for rapid production at low cost in the South American region.

Segmental Analysis

The global paint process automation market is segmented by offering, purpose, vertical, and type.

Based on the offering

the global market is bifurcated into hardware, software, and services.

The hardware segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. The larger share is linked to the rapid adoption of the hardware sector into paint process automation that enables smoother operation and adaptability. The hardware segment’s demand is propelling due to the surge in demand for components required for the smooth functioning of paint process automation, such as robots, controllers, communication systems, and power distribution. Thus, due to the dependence of paint process automation on different hardware, the hardware segment will continue to grow at a higher rate over the forecast period.

Based on purpose

the global market is bifurcated into interior and exterior.

The interior segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period. The interior segment consists of interior painting and coating of automotive components, pre-fabricated walls in the construction industry, and various fabrics in the textile industry. Interior painting can be messy and time-consuming and increase the waste of paint material, especially in large spaces, which can be resolved using robots for automated painting or coating.

Six and seven-axis kinematic systems are generally required for an interior segment of paint process automation to allow robotic arms to reach complex areas. The demand for interior painting or coating has led to the use of paint process automation due to its increased efficiency, less waste, painting of complex internal areas of various components, and consistent results. Hence, it will fuel the growth of the painting process automation market.

Based on vertical

the global market is bifurcated into automotive, aviation, agriculture, textile, and construction.

The automotive segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period. The larger share is linked to the need for cost-cutting in the automotive market and mass production to meet the increased demand for vehicles worldwide. With paint process automation, various components of an automobile are painted and coated for protection and an appealing look with higher precision to reduce the wastage of painting material. Furthermore, the increasing demand for vehicles at an economical price has contributed to the adoption of paint process automation in the automotive industry, as it eliminates the requirement for highly skilled painters for each component and assists in painting and coating at a much faster pace than humans.

Based on type

the global market is bifurcated into floor-mounted systems, wall-mounted systems, and rail-mounted systems.

The floor mounted painting robot segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period. The larger share is linked to the convenience of floor-mounted painting robots, as it is comparatively easier to integrate with a painting booth. Moreover, they are easier to install, readily available in developing countries, and at low cost, contributing to the faster adoption of paint process automation in various industries.

Recent Developments

• April 2022- ABB India inaugurated a new production facility to ramp up the manufacture of digital technologies and to export 20% of the production abroad.
• April 2022- Yaskawa Electric PTE ltd introduced new industrial robot technology to transport objects depending on their color and shape to their correct position.
• January 2022- FANUC America Corporation introduced the new M-1000iA robot, which can carry heavy products such as automotive components, construction materials, and battery packs for electric vehicles.