NEWS
COMMENT W
hile there has been a steady rise in the number of robots on UK factory floors over the years, the UK still has just 119
robots per 10,000 workers (Source: International Federation Of Robotics, World Robotics report 2024), well below the global average of 151 and far behind China, Japan, USA, South Korea and Germany which collectively accounted for 80% of global robot installations in 2024. This reluctance to invest risks a growing gap between the output of the UK and its international competitors. But here’s the good news. In a bid to close this gap, the Manufacturing
Technology Centre (MTC) has launched a new Robot Experience Centre (REC), designed to help UK manufacturers accelerate the adoption of robotics and automation technologies. Located at MTC’s Ansty Park site in Coventry, the vendor-neutral facility will enable manufacturers to explore, test and validate robotics solutions before making investment decisions. The REC comprises three dedicated areas: a modular automation
and robotics sandpit for project development and experimentation; a demonstration space for applications including welding, palletising and machine tending; and a collaborative robot development area. Alongside access to robot and automation technologies, the centre will
offer training and expert support to help businesses build skills, increase confidence and successfully implement automation solutions. The initiative has been developed to address the persistent barriers
to robotics adoption across UK manufacturing, particularly among SMEs, where challenges around skills, procurement and implementation continue to hinder deployment. A new training programme - Robotics and Automation Adoption for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises - will provide practical guidance on evaluating, procuring and integrating robotics technologies. The centre was officially opened by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. Speaking at the launch, he said: “The Robot Experience Centre is ... helping more companies see what’s possible, build confidence and take that next step to make the investment they need to grow with confidence.” For more information please visit:
www.the-mtc.org/robot- experience-centre Michelle Lea – Editor
NEW GUIDE EXPLORES WATER INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
S
even enemies; one playbook. ABB’s new guide explores seven of the biggest operational challenges facing water and wastewater facilities – and how to overcome them.
The new playbook outlines how water and wastewater professionals can
address some of the most pressing operational challenges – from power quality issues and ageing infrastructure, to water hammer and cavitation. The guide, entitled: “The 7 Enemies That Interrupt Your Water & Wastewater Operations”, focuses on seven common causes of disruption, and explores how ABB drives can help to improve resilience, efficiency, and reliability. The launch comes at a challenging time for the UK water sector. Utilities
are under pressure to improve performance and resilience, while navigating regulatory requirements, low public confidence, rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. At the same time, they must also maintain reliable service that meets capacity needs, reduce the environmental impact of operations, and meet ambitious efficiency and sustainability targets.
These operational issues, if left unchecked, can quickly mount up and have
a severe negative impact on performance, maintenance costs, efficiency and reliability. Managing ageing assets while modernising control systems can be difficult within constrained budgets. Even in applications where drive technology is already used, incorrect configuration can mean that the potential efficiency and performance benefits are not fully realised. The playbook focuses on practical, targeted interventions that can help to address these challenges, while improving energy efficiency, prolonging equipment life, and reducing downtime. As well as saving energy, the playbook
explores some of the water-specific features and functions in ABB drives that can help to improve resilience and reliability, reduce mechanical stress, optimise performance, and extend asset life. Knowing your enemy is the first step to defeating it.
The playbook can be found online by
searching for “ABB Seven Enemies”.
go.abb/motion
PARTNERSHIP ENABLES AUTONOMOUS OPERATIONS S
chneider Electric has partnered with industrial services provider Bilfinger to develop the control system for a first-of-its- kind floating power and control demonstrator of a Normally Unmanned Installation (NUI) buoy. The project deploys Schneider Electric’s open, software-defined EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EAE) platform to enable fully autonomous operations in a punishing offshore environments. Bilfinger was appointed by Buoyant Production
Technologies (BPT), a subsidiary of Crondall Energy, to design a scalable and repeatable solution capable of supporting autonomous operations at remote and marginal offshore platforms. The objective was to create a system in which a renewable energy microgrid provides reliable power for mission critical, subsea tie-back systems.
Built on open, software-defined automation (SDA), the resulting NUI demonstrator buoy is a compact, autonomous offshore platform
4
located in the North Sea. It generates its own renewable energy and manages subsea control locally, removing the need for onsite personnel or a connection to a distant platform and lowering emissions as a result. Since deployment in late 2025, it has completed 1,000 hours of fully autonomous operation without incident and achieved technology qualification within the targeted 10-month target. The use of open, software-defined automation supports a flexible, future-ready approach by eliminating vendor lock-in and decoupling applications from hardware. This enables the integration of best-in-class technologies never previously combined in a single offshore system. The solution presents a compelling alternative to conventional subsea tie-back infrastructure, which is increasingly under strain as operators expand into more remote and deepwater locations. “Traditional automation architectures make
PROCESS & CONTROL ENGINEERING | JUNE 2026
customisation very difficult, especially for first- of-its-kind projects,” said Steven Parkinson, Automation, Production and Service Director, Bilfinger UK. “This approach simplified integration between renewable power generation, remote operation, and autonomous control, while overcoming the long lead times, high capital costs, and limited flexibility associated with traditional infrastructure.” “This project proves a new operating model
for offshore assets and supports our mission to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries,” said Devan Pillay, President of Heavy Industries at Schneider Electric. “Our close collaboration with Bilfinger and the adoption of open, software- defined automation were critical to a successful and timely delivery. The real opportunity now lies in replicating and scaling this approach across future assets to enable a lower-carbon offshore industry.”
www.se.com
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