Growth falters for German robotics industry

Germany is predicting a slowdown for sales of its robotics and automation equipment industry from seven per cent last year to two per cent in 2016. According to the German mechanical engineering association VDMA robotics and automation equipment 2016 sales were predicted to reach 12.2 billion euros ($13.6 billion). Business from China has shrunk - with last year's 30 per cent sales forecast coming in at 16 per cent as the country seeks to build up its home robotics industry. Germany is also seeing a difference in the types of robotics being sold with pricier robots  being replaced by lighter cabots which can work alongside people.