The dark factories market is estimated to be valued at US$ 70.63 Billion in 2031
- Ronak Shah
- U.S.A
- January 15, 2025

A newly published report by Coherent Market Insights reveals a sustainable growth opportunity in the dark factories market. Coherent Market Insights’ analyst projected the dark factories market to be valued at US$ 70.63 Bn in 2031. It is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.9% over the forecast period 2024-2031.
Rising demand for automation across various manufacturing sectors drives market growth. Dark factories utilize advanced robotics and automation to minimize human intervention in the production process. This helps in improving production efficiency while reducing production costs.
Moreover, automation allows companies to scale up or down their production capacity according to demand fluctuations without significant changes in the workforce. Such benefits of automation are fuelling the adoption of dark factories.
Key Market Trends:
The increasing focus on lean manufacturing is a key trend driving market growth. Lean manufacturing aims at minimizing waste and creating more value for customers with fewer resources. Dark factories align well with the principles of lean manufacturing as they rely more on technology and automation to optimize production processes. This helps companies practicing lean manufacturing to reduce costs related to inventory management, corrections, defects, and unnecessary production steps.
Collaborative robotics or cobots– The growing popularity of collaborative robotics or cobots among manufacturers is another key trend gaining traction. Cobots work alongside human workers to perform repetitive and lightweight tasks, allowing humans to focus on more value-added tasks.
Dark Factories Market Opportunities
Rise of Industrial Robotics– Industrial robotics is expected to experience significant growth within the dark factories market. Robots are increasingly being used for complex manufacturing processes that are repetitive, hazardous to humans, or require a high level of precision. It is estimated that over the next 5 years, industrial robotics adoption will increase by 15% annually. Advancements in artificial intelligence, IoT, and edge computing are also enabling robots to take on more complicated tasks with greater autonomy.
Growth of 3D printing technology – Additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology is another major opportunity within the dark factories space. 3D printing is well-suited for rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing applications. The market for industrial 3D printers is forecast to grow at over 20% each year through 2027.
Key Market Takeaways
The dark factories market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2024-2031. This is due to increased adoption of digital manufacturing technologies.
On the basis of type, industrial robotics segment is expected to hold a dominant position, accounting for over 30% market share in 2031. This is due to rising deployment in applications across industries.
On the basis of end-user industry, automotive is expected to hold a dominant position over the forecast period. This is due to ongoing automation and production line optimizations in the industry.
North America is expected to hold a dominant position over the forecast period. This is due to presence of major players and technology advancements in the region.
Competitor Insights
Key players operating in the dark factories market include
FANUC Corporation, Changying Precision Technology Company, Athena 3D Manufacturing, Amazon, Clevertech Wootzano, Basetwo AIDeephawkSimplifyber ,Xaba,MOLG,STILRIDE
Recent Developments:
In 2021, Westinghouse Electric Company agreed to purchase a 50% stake in Tecnatom, a Spanish engineering firm focused on nuclear services. This strategic cooperation intends to strengthen Westinghouse’s expertise in nuclear refueling, engineering, and digital services, helping to develop next-generation radioactive material management systems. More information is available in full report