Industrial robots speed up and simplify drug manufacturing processes, improve the accuracy and safety of enterprises, and allow industry players to optimize costs by reducing the need for manual labor.

According to forecasts from the consulting company Data Bridge Market Research, by 2030 the global market for pharmaceutical robots will exceed $263.6 million, with an average annual growth rate of 9.2%. The key growth driver for this segment will be the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where the largest pharmaceutical companies are concentrated, as well as factories for the production of industrial robots. We will tell you about the current situation in the market for robotic solutions for the pharmaceutical industry and its prospects.

Current situation and market trends

When considering the global market for pharmaceutical robots, it is worth noting the following trends. First of all, there are not many highly specialized companies producing solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Most robots are universal models that can be adapted to certain tasks. Most often, industrial robots in the pharmaceutical industry are used to automate repetitive tasks, including labeling, quality control, as well as packaging and packing - the last to account for about 50% of the market volume. Robots are already successfully performing the task of packaging products in blisters, bottles, jars and boxes. An example is intelligent packaging systems.

In terms of quality control, industrial robots are capable of thoroughly checking raw materials and then analyzing finished products for compliance with quality standards. An example is machine vision systems - high-resolution cameras record any defects and deviations from the norm.

It is important to note that the share of robots directly involved in production is increasing every year . For example, robots are used in the production process at the Promomed Group of Companies. The plant has a workshop for the automated production of solid dosage forms, in which the entire cycle is carried out according to specified parameters without human intervention.

One of the current trends in both the global and Russian markets is the wider implementation of collaborative robots (cobots). They can be used in various processes of pharmaceutical production: at the stage of drug analysis and testing, during dosing and mixing, during quality control. At the same time, there is no strict division of work areas between the company's specialists and the cobots.

The inclusion of automated systems in existing lines makes the work more flexible, increases the accuracy and speed of drug production, reducing the likelihood of errors and product contamination, which is important for maintaining sterility in drug production conditions.

The demand for autonomous guided vehicles (AGV robots) is also growing. This is an automatically controlled vehicle with an electric motor, sensors and detectors, transporting cargo along a pre-planned route. AGV can serve as a towing vehicle that hooks up auxiliary carts with cargo and transports them. The introduction of AGV robots into pharmaceutical production minimizes the influence of the human factor, increases the accuracy and speed of order picking. As a result, manufacturers are able not only to increase the efficiency of work in warehouses, but also to guarantee a high level of compliance with product safety standards.

Another trend in the industrial robots market, which is relevant mainly among foreign players, is the implementation of robotic solutions at the research and development (R&D) stage. A number of companies today use robots in potentially hazardous environments - in conditions of biological or radioactive hazard. Robots' tasks may include: dosing, mixing and transferring harmful substances to analyzers, conducting analyses with maximum accuracy and speed. Delegating hazardous operations helps reduce the risk of occupational diseases and injuries among employees of pharmaceutical enterprises.

What awaits the Russian pharmaceutical robots market

Domestic pharmaceutical companies continue to introduce robots into their operations, despite sanctions, technological barriers and limited local production. Robotization is becoming a necessary condition for competitiveness.

The growth rate of the Russian pharmaceutical robot market, as in the previous year, is comparable to the global one. The "three pillars" of the current development model are: reorientation to Asian markets, growth of domestic production and strengthening of state support measures.

Back in 2022–2023, pharmaceutical companies were forced to purchase the necessary products through third countries or parallel import mechanisms, or look for alternatives from manufacturers in China, Turkey, and Southeast Asia. In 2024, according to the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the production volumes of industrial robots increased by 2.5 times, and industrial robotics became a sustainable area within the framework of national projects. The driver was, among other things, the emergence of competence centers — associations of universities, research institutes, and business platforms aimed at reproducible and competitive domestic production. Export figures currently remain symbolic — industrial systems are almost never sent outside the Russian Federation.

If we talk about areas of application, according to data from the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Expert.ru, approximately 40% of industrial robotics is used by pharmaceutical enterprises in the country.

The average payback period for industrial robots in the packaging and logistics segment is from 2.5 to 4.5 years. According to experts, when replacing one work cycle with a robot, the savings on payroll are approximately 1.5 million rubles per year. Taking into account the rising cost of hiring and the shortage of personnel, robotization in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in other areas, is becoming strategically necessary.

The main drivers of market development are:

• government support measures for the creation and expansion of domestic production (tax incentives, subsidies, grants, preferential loans). Russian models have already appeared on the market, which are produced by the companies Alfa Engineering, Aripix Robotics, ASGARD, Bitrobotix and others;

• development of modular solutions with open interfaces for quick reconfiguration of operating modes;

• software localization (SCADA systems, computer vision modules and digital twins);

• localization of servo drives, gearboxes, control elements (currently the share is about 40% among leading domestic manufacturers);

• improving educational programs for training specialists in robot integration and maintenance;

• implementation of joint projects between universities and pharmaceutical companies;

• strengthening partnerships with China and Southeast Asia.

One of the promising areas in the domestic market is the development of 3D printing of medicines . This is an innovative technology that allows us to get closer to personalized medicine, taking into account the characteristics of the body of a particular patient. It is useful in the development of drugs where it is necessary to ensure controlled release of active components, as well as in the creation of tablets that do not require swallowing.

Today, scientists from the St. Petersburg Chemical and Pharmaceutical University (SPhFU) are among the first in the Russian Federation to master this technology. Specialists have begun printing an analgesic on a 3D printer, which makes it possible to combine several drugs in one pill and individually select the composition of the drug for each patient.

The Russian market of robotic solutions for the pharmaceutical industry continues to grow. Accordingly, both manufacturers and suppliers, as well as potential buyers, are interested in reliable cooperation. Participation in the international exhibition Pharmtech & Ingredients allows us to solve this problem.

Pharmtech & Ingredients is the largest industry event where Russian and foreign manufacturers of pharmaceutical equipment can demonstrate advanced solutions and achievements to the target audience. In 2024, the exhibition was visited by 10,345 market specialists. 35% of visitors were drug manufacturers. 55% of professionals who came to the site were interested in modern equipment for drug production.

BOOK YOUR STAND