US robotics market for packaging and processing set to nearly double by 2031

The US robotics market serving the packaging and processing industries is projected to grow from more than $440 million in 2025 to approximately $800 million by 2031, according to a new report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

Produced in collaboration with market intelligence company Interact Analysis, the 2026 Robotics in US Packaging & Processing Report examines robotics technologies, investment priorities and adoption challenges across the sector. The projected market growth represents a compound annual growth rate of 10.3%.

Industrial robots accounted for the largest share of the market in 2025 at 63%, followed by mobile robots at 32% and collaborative robots at 5%.

The report forecasts a shift in this distribution over the coming years, with mobile robots expected to become the largest segment by 2031, accounting for 45% of the market. Humanoid robots, which currently represent a small and largely pilot-stage segment, are projected to increase their share from 0.1% to 5% over the same period.

Among the end users surveyed for the research, 72% currently use robotics within their operations, with this proportion expected to reach 95% by 2031. In addition, 61% said they expect to increase their investment in robotics over the next year.

Robotics adoption is also expected to increase among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and integrators. The report found that 69% currently include robotics within their portfolios, while 86% expect to do so by 2031. Around 81% anticipate increasing their investment over the next 12 months.

Increasing throughput and productivity was identified by end users as one of the main reasons for adopting robotics, alongside reducing costs and improving product quality and consistency.

When selecting an OEM, respondents highlighted reliability and uptime performance, the availability and quality of service and support, and demonstrated return on investment or payback among their main considerations.

However, the research also identified several barriers to wider adoption. These include the upfront cost of robotics, integration with existing equipment and systems, and concerns surrounding maintenance and service support.

Applications attracting interest include robotic arms for loading packaging materials into machinery and mobile robots used to transport materials to production lines. Mobile robots equipped with collaborative robot arms and robotics for processing applications were also highlighted.

Robotics adoption is moving from targeted applications toward a broader role in packaging and processing operations. The research shows that end users are looking beyond labor availability alone. They are prioritizing measurable gains in throughput, cost, quality, and consistency — and they expect reliable systems, strong service, and a clear path to ROI.

Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI.

The findings are being released ahead of PACK EXPO International 2026, where robotics technologies will be among the solutions demonstrated by suppliers. The event will provide manufacturers with an opportunity to explore areas including system integration, service and support, safety, uptime and return on investment.