INDUSTRY News KUKA SHOWCASES ITS LATEST SOLUTIONS AT MACH
KUKA Robotics will showcase its latest robotics and software solutions at MACH 2026. Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 20–24 April, the exhibition will bring together innovators from across the sector, (see our show preview on page 32). KUKA invites visitors to experience the latest developments in
robotic automation, software innovation and customer support on stands 18-530 and 17-370. Visitors will be able to explore KUKA’s portfolio of high-performance industrial robots, alongside a suite of digital tools designed to simplify automation integration and improve production performance. On stand 18-530, KUKA will demonstrate the precision, speed and adaptability of its latest-generation industrial robots. The range includes compact six-axis robots for intricate assembly tasks, through to heavy-duty models capable of handling large payloads. KUKA will also showcase its new iiQKA.OS2 robot operating
system, the my.KUKAonline customer portal, and software solutions including iiQoT remote condition monitoring and iiQWorks engineering platforms. Available through the KUKA digital sphere, these tools enable intuitive programming, simulation and integration, helping reduce commissioning times while providing real-time performance insights. Visitors will also see a live demonstration of KUKA’s advanced welding capabilities via a specially built desktop friction welding machine. KUKA’s team will also be available to discuss automation challenges and provide tailored solutions. Manufacturing simulation specialist Visual Components will co-exhibit with KUKA, demonstrating how simulation and evaluate production scenarios and program robots virtually before deployment.
In the Education & Development Zone on stand 17-370, visitors and students can try
KUKA.AMR Fleet software, designed to KUKA will also present a live robot demonstration in the Automation & Robotics Knowledge Hub, highlighting how robotics can improve consistency, throughput and quality while reducing waste and manual labour. To register for MACH 2026 visit
machexhibition.com/visitor- registration. To arrange a meeting with a KUKA automation specialist email
info-uk@kuka.com or visit
my.KUKA.com.
ABB COLUMN BRIDGING THE ISLANDS OF AUTOMATION
A logistics facility is only as fast and efficient as its slowest process. That makes end-to-end integration the logical next step for warehouse and logistics operators looking to maximise the value of their automated systems. At the same time, external factors including persistent workforce shortages and the explosive growth of e-commerce are piling on the pressure for logistics companies to raise their game to ensure they can meet modern fulfilment expectations. Island life – An estimated 50,000 warehouses are already using
warehouse robots at the start of 2026[1], yet all too often these systems are configured as islands of automation within a sea of manual or semi-automated processes. This can result in stuttering process flows and data inconsistencies, which in turn create significant bottlenecks that present a technical challenge that hinders the ability of many organisations to optimise their end-to-end efficiency. If that scenario sounds familiar, it could be time to invest in some joined-up thinking. Evolving solutions – Happily, many of the latest advances in robotic automation make it easier and more effective to embed automation throughout logistics facilities. Our Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR™) platform combines robotics, AI, and autonomous mobility to create adaptive, intelligent, and scalable solutions that can respond to the dynamic nature of logistics applications. ABB’s robots can adapt to automatically handle variability in SKU types, packaging, layout changes, and seasonal peaks across tasks such as picking, depalletising, induction, sorting, and inspection. These advances are thanks to a combination of ABB’s RobotStudio® simulation environment and OmniCore™ controller architecture. ABB’s Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) use Visual SLAM navigation to travel through evolving spaces in real time, without needing reference markers or other fixed infrastructure. AI vision models are also behind ABB’s picking and sorting functional modules and, similarly, pre-integrated software and vision technology enable depalletising robots to assess a wide variety of pallets, boxes or pattern types and determine how to handle them quickly and accurately. Driving change – By providing the tools to enable end-to-end integration, automation companies are helping warehouses and logistics providers move from static automation toward intelligent, scalable autonomous systems. Visit
www.abb.com/robotics or scan the QR code. [1] Warehouse Automation Statistics (2026) | SellersCommerce
Alan Conn, Managing Director, ABB Robotics UK & Ireland
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | March 2026
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