Five million industrial robots are now at work in factories worldwide. This is stated in the report *World Robotics 2026* by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), published on 24 September. It is a record: 9 per cent more than a year earlier. At the same time the report shows that Europe is lagging behind. In Germany, Italy, France and Spain fewer new robots were installed in 2025. The IFR reports this in a press release.

What the IFR reports

Worldwide, more than 600,000 new industrial robots were installed in 2025, 11 per cent more than in 2024. For 2026 the IFR expects 655,000 new robots and for 2029, 806,000. The growth is mainly in Asia and the Americas. According to the IFR, Europe is growing more slowly.

The figures for the largest European markets in 2025:

Country	New robots in 2025	Change
Germany	24.800	-8%
Italy	approximately 7,800	-11%
France	almost 4,500	-8%
Spain	approximately 4,300	-15%

Germany remains by far the largest robot market in Europe, with 41 per cent of all installations in the EU. According to INDUSTRIAL Production, it was mainly metal processing that declined in Germany: 5,300 robots were added there, 13 per cent fewer than a year earlier. The automotive industry is still the largest customer, but its share fell from 40 per cent in 2020 to 23 per cent. For 2026 the IFR again expects less demand in Germany, and an increase again from 2027. Dutch figures are not in the press release.

Fewer new robots, more robots running

At first sight the European picture looks gloomy. But the two figures say something different. Fewer new robots are being added, while the number of robots already running keeps growing. A robot that is installed today often keeps running for years. Anyone who postpones a new investment therefore has the existing robots work longer and often harder.

This has consequences for one component in particular: the dress pack. That is the package of cables and hoses that runs along the arm to the tool, carrying power, data, compressed air, cooling water or welding wire. It moves along with every movement of the robot. Around the wrist, on axes 4 to 6, it is bent and twisted at the same time. That is where it wears first. What a dress pack exactly is, you can read in what is a dress pack.

What does this mean for companies with robots?

A robot itself is built to last. The hose package around it wears with every cycle. A cable break at the wrist stops the robot just as surely as a faulty motor, and often at a moment when nobody expects it.

Three things help to keep robots that have to keep running longer reliable as well:

Look at the wrist. Chafing, kinking or a whipping loop in the package are early signals. In preventing cable breaks on your robot you can read what to look for and when to replace the cable, the hose or the whole dress pack.
Keep parts at hand. A protective hose, clamp or ball joint is quickly replaced if the part is there. If you are looking for a part for an existing package, request it via parts and repair.
Tackle the cause when converting. If a robot gets a new task or a different tool, the load on the package also changes. With the Dress pack configurator you choose brand, model and solution and receive a bill of materials that fits your robot.

What Wisman Techniek does

Since 1975, Wisman Techniek has been a specialist in cable management. Through our robot division we supply Reiku dress packs, from engineering to assembly, matched to the brand and model of your robot. We are also the exclusive dealer of Tsubaki Kabelschlepp in the Netherlands, for robots that travel on a linear axis or need a cable carrier for the supply.