Automation uptake continues to grow, especially in manufacturing and other industrial applications, to help overcome labor challenges and enable productivity gains. This continued growth is demonstrated by the rise in robot orders recorded in 2025 as robotics is an important segment of the automation market — and an important customer segment for many fluid power and other motion control technology suppliers.
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) reports North American robot orders increased 6.6% in both the fourth quarter of 2025 and for the full year compared to 2024. Growth was primarily driven by non-automotive industries, particularly food and consumer goods, semiconductors and electronics, and life sciences, demonstrating the broader implementation of robotics and other automation technologies taking place in the market.
Hydraulic and industrial hose service company PIRTEK also reports a positive end to 2025, with the company indicating it was the strongest to date in its history. The company continued to see demand throughout the year for its hose services from sectors including construction, transportation and logistics. Having access to maintenance and repair services helps to minimize downtime in these critical sectors as well as extend the longevity of existing fleets, an important factor for many who may not have wanted to invest in new machinery due to continued uncertainty about the economy.
Other highlights in this week’s newsletter include a Q&A with Bosch Rexroth’s Enrique Busquets, Vice President Mobile Hydraulics, who shares his thoughts on the technologies and trends he expects to see at the quickly approaching CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 as well as insights from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) on the trends it expects to shape off-highway equipment in 2026.
What design trends are you seeing in the mobile equipment market? Are there specific technology development areas influencing the design of hydraulics and pneumatics for use in construction equipment, agricultural machinery and other mobile applications? Take our brief survey to offer your insights on how the mobile fluid power space is evolving or reach out to me at [email protected] to let me know your thoughts! And if you’ll be at CONEXPO in a couple of weeks, you can let me know that too, I’m always happy to have a chance to meet with our readers.
Sara Jensen, Editor, Power & Motion
