The Professional Association of Robotics, Automation and Innovation (PARAi) forecasts a 9.8% rise in industrial robot installations in Bulgaria in 2024, news agency BTA reported. This follows the integration of 85 robots by association members in 2023, marking a continued trend of automation growth.

“This growth, according to our observations, in 2024 so far is mainly due to four sectors - chemical industry, metals, e-commerce distribution centres, and the production of machinery and electronics,” said PARAi vice president Yonko Chuklev, in an interview with BTA.

Chuklev noted that the chemical and metals industries showed strong performance earlier this year, with significant growth in production output. He cited examples such as Solvay Soda’s automated packaging lines and Standard Profil’s BGN3mn (€1.5mn) investment in 20 robots.

In machinery and equipment production, companies like Centillion and boiler manufacturer Tesy have also embraced robotics. “Currently, about 30 industrial robots are working in the production of Tesy,” Chuklev added.

E-commerce is also fuelling demand for automation, with investments in highly automated warehouses by companies like eBag and Ozone.bg.

Chuklev acknowledged that PARAi’s original 2023 projection for a 5% increase in robot installations proved conservative, with actual growth hitting 10%. While some sectors such as automotive and textiles saw declines, other industries surged.