AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS | MACHINERY


Smooth running: the benefits of automation


Automated production cells have helped injection moulders – making products as varied as packaging, auto-injectors and electronic components – to boost throughput


Robots are on the rise. Across manufacturing, many sectors – including injection moulding – are using them to boost efficiency, raise product quality and address labour shortages. AI, it seems, is the great leveller that will make automation accessible to businesses of all sizes. “Artificial intelligence is making robots smarter, safer and faster to deploy,” said Oliver Selby, head of sales at Fanuc UK. “Through voice-controlled operation, adaptive motion control, safety-aware human-robot collaboration, and virtual commis- sioning via digital twins, AI is transforming indus- trial automation.” A significant benefit of AI is its ability to acceler-


ate deployment. By helping with code generation, AI makes it faster to implement robotic systems. Non-specialists can use natural language to


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programme robots to perform tasks, reducing the engineering burden on manufacturers and delivering faster return on investment. AI-enabled robots also allow existing production lines to be retrofitted without extensive modifications. Another trend, he says, is smart, scalable


automation. Robotic solutions that evolve along- side changing business needs are enabling manufacturers to de-risk automation investments without compromising on quality or reliability. “Smaller, more agile systems help manufacturers


address labour challenges – particularly for low-skill or repetitive tasks like picking, placing and palletis- ing,” he said. End-users’ attitudes towards return on invest-


ment are also shifting, he claims. Rather than focusing only on upfront purchase price, manufac-


March/April 2026 | INJECTION WORLD 23


Main image: AI is a key emerging theme in robotics and automation


IMAGE: FANUC UK


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