Average Productivity Increased by 9.3% Through Utilization Results
Recorded Creation of 216 New Jobs Over the Past 3 Years
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Daegu Metropolitan City announced on the 3rd that, as a result of verifying the safety of mobile collaborative robots through the demonstration project of the ‘Daegu Mobile Collaborative Robot Regulatory Free Zone,’ the ‘Korean Industrial Standard (KS) on Safety Standards’ applicable to industrial sites has been established since the 1st, and regulations have been finally improved.
A collaborative robot is exhibited at the '2024 RoboWorld' held on the 23rd of last month at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang, Gyeonggi. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
Until now, there were no clear safety standards for using mobile collaborative robots, requiring separation of the work area or installation of safety fences, which made it practically impossible to work while moving and thus difficult to introduce them in industrial sites. Accordingly, since its designation in August 2020, the special zone has promoted demonstration projects for mobile collaborative robots in various manufacturing and production environments. Through this, the utility and safety of the robots were verified, leading to the establishment of the Korean Industrial Standard for mobile collaborative robots.
According to companies participating in the special zone, the use of mobile collaborative robots resulted in an average productivity increase of 9.3%. Additionally, over the three years from 2021 to last year, achievements include attracting investments exceeding 150 billion KRW, achieving direct and indirect sales of over 100 billion KRW, creating 216 new jobs, and acquiring 49 intellectual property rights (patent and design applications and registrations). The global market for mobile collaborative robots was estimated at 385.9 million USD last year, with an expected average annual growth rate of 23.9% until 2030.
Kim Hong-ju, Head of the Special Zone Innovation Planning Group at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “Through the mobile collaborative robot special zone, the Korean Industrial Standard for mobile collaborative robots has been established, enabling timely improvement of related regulations and efficient and safe utilization of advanced robot technology. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will continue to strive to establish a growth foundation for the region by supporting the demonstration and commercialization of innovative projects hindered by regulations through the special zone.”
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