FEATURE Machine building


ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY LET’S GET TALKING


LET’S GET TALKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY


Stefania Moruzzi, Business Development Manager, UK Industry & Machine Tools, Siemens Financial Services UK, says sustainability is at the heart of machine builders’ strategy,  manufacturers reap the rewards


S


ustainability in manufacturing is a business priority. One survey of 420 global manufacturing leaders reveals that over 70% expect circular business


solutions to increase revenue by 2027. Nearly two-thirds believe these strategies will improve operational resilience, and over half anticipate cost savings even when accounting for high upfront investments. In a context of global volatility, the challenge remains for manufacturers: increasing production without increasing costs. Cutting energy use, minimising raw materials usage and waste production, and reducing the consumption of water, catalysts and lubricants, can all cut costs and bring environmental gains.


Where are machine builders focusing  To respond to demand from their manufacturing customers, machine builders globally are placing sustainability at the forefront of their marketing. An analysis of the world’s top 50 machine builders shows  of top machine makers) is the most widely


 by Industry 4.0-driven productivity gains, with 70% of machine builders claiming the same or greater output using the same or fewer resources. What are credible savings thresholds for  Research commissioned by Siemens Financial Services, entitled Talking Sustainability, surveyed 100+ machine builders globally - revealing that the average minimum energy savings from new generation industrial equipment exceeds 20%. While results depend on what the new machine replaces, most builders see 20% savings as a realistic starting point for discussions with manufacturers.


Real-world examples highlight the potential


impact: • A vacuum pump vendor reports 33% reduced power consumption for a semiconductor manufacturer customer through an energy-optimised dry pump upgrade. • A technology company combined machine vision software, robotics and specialist camera equipment, to help an industrial bakery cut errors and boost throughput – reducing overall costs by 75% compared to traditional camera and lighting options. • A packaged consumer goods manufacturer in Germany reduced food waste by 55% and made over €1.24 million net savings, by introducing machinery that hygienically repackages rejected products.


These cases show how equipment upgrades  energy and waste reductions. Manufacturers are taking note: a global survey of 1,000+ professionals ranks robotics and automation as the top investment priority for over a third of respondents.


What is blocking investment in sustainability- 


The case for upgrading technology is clear. Yet digital transformation remains limited beyond large manufacturers. One survey found that just  digital transformation.


Several barriers persist: management must understand return-on-investment, organisations need the capability to manage and use data  systems, and knowledge sharing between buyers and suppliers is often weak. More fundamentally, funds are tight in markets


where economic performance is uncertain and where international geopolitics are increasing that uncertainty.


How can manufacturers take the leap and  


spread investment cost across an agreed period – is increasingly important.


 Implementation requires strategy and planning to avoid costly failure. A competent specialist     manufacturers to access the sustainability- enabling features promoted by over 75% of  cutting costs and protecting working capital. Beyond meeting regulatory or policy targets, this  both technology providers and manufacturers. Siemens Transform is back for 2026 at Manchester Central on 15 and 16 July. Register your interest on the website below.


Siemens Financial Services www.siemens.com/en-us/events/transform- uk-ireland/


10 April 2026 | Automation automationmagazine.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40