FEATURE Robotics
Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager for ABB Robotics, explains integrated into industrial robotics is emerging as a key enabler with the potential to transform the UK’s manufacturing future
T
he UK manufacturing sector stands at a crossroads. Confronted with labour shortages, rising operational costs, and increasing demand for customised, high-quality output, manufacturers are urgently seeking solutions to sustain productivity and competitiveness. For those who are passionate about raising the UK’s manufacturing productivity, it has long been a source of frustration that the UK continues to trail many of our international competitors when it comes to the use of robots. With just 119 robots per 10,000 workers in 2023, described by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) as ‘very low for a Western European country’, we lag far behind nations such as Germany and South Korea as well as countries that we wouldn’t normally have seen as close competitors. Encouragingly, as automation becomes more programming and AI lower the barriers to adoption, there are signs that this gap could be set to narrow. The UK industrial robotics market, valued at around USD475 million in 2024, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 13% over the next decade. Much of this growth will be driven by the evolution of AI- powered robotic systems, which can function more autonomously, adapt to dynamic environments, and collaborate directly with human workers.
The last decade has seen massive strides
forward in both robots and the software used to program and operate them. Major milestones have included the development of compact robots, the evolution of cobots and mobile robots, and the arrival of software tools to simplify programming robots. Coupled with the power of AI intelligence, robot vision is opening new possibilities for robots to interpret and respond to their surroundings, enabling them to make decisions and adapt their performance accordingly. Rather than replacing jobs, these robots human workers by taking over monotonous, dangerous or ergonomically challenging tasks and allowing people to focus on oversight, problem-solving, and higher-value activities. One of the most visible changes enabled by
32 November/December 2025 | Automation
THE AGE OF INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION
AI is the expansion of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Unlike previous generations of technology such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), AMRs do not rely on they use technologies such as simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) to navigate warehouses, identify obstacles, and optimise travel routes without manual intervention. Companies developing such technologies have made substantial progress in simplifying the deployment of robotics, including through the development of software to remove the complexity of programming and operation. ABB’s AMR Studio software, for example, using intuitive drag-and-drop tools, reducing reliance on dedicated programming expertise. robots with “eyes, hands, brains and mobility”, mirroring the versatility of human endurance, precision and adaptability. Another innovation under development will allow robots to understand spoken or visual instructions using generative AI, eliminating the need for coding altogether. the time and cost associated with robot deployment, while making automation viable even for companies with limited technical resources.
The impact of AI-enhanced robotics has the potential to transform a broad range of UK manufacturing sectors. In the automotive and electronics industries, for example, these systems can be used to assemble complex components at increased levels of speed and
precision. Robots equipped with AI-based vision systems can identify parts, assess their positioning, and make any necessary adjustments in real time, resulting in higher quality and fewer defects.
In the food, beverage, and consumer ensure consistency by enabling robots to and packaging products at high speed, adapting to variations in shape or format, and inspecting items for defects, all without In logistics and warehousing, robots are
without requiring human direction. Picking robots combining vision and AI can identify package types, decide the optimal storage location, and even adjust operations in response to seasonal demand changes. Unlocking the full potential of AI-powered
robotics in the UK will require continued investment in people and processes. One of readiness. While robots can take on repetitive tasks, their successful integration depends on people who understand how to manage, maintain, and improve automated systems. The long-awaited UK Industrial Strategy contains various provisions for providing the necessary training to equip both current and future workers with the skills needed to work with AI and AI-enabled technologies, including robots.
ABB Robotics
www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
THE AGE OF INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION
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