Across all sectors — from traditional automation users such as automotive and electronics to new adopters including food & beverage and logistics — manufacturing firms are breaking down longstanding barriers to automation, leading the International Federation of Robotics to predict “strong growth” in the number of UK robot installations.
No longer seen as expensive, complicated or inflexible, today’s automated solutions are affordable, agile, easy to operate and smaller than ever.
And with the advent of smart features such as integrated vision systems and real-time energy reduction functionality, they are helping manufacturers to streamline their operations, increase their productivity and plug the labour gap better than ever before.
Here, experts from FANUC UK share their views on the hottest automation trends to look out for in 2024.
Energy efficient solutions
One of the major trends in automation is energy efficiency. Aside from its primary function, a key requirement for any automation solution will be its ability to stabilise energy consumption and reduce it as much as possible.
Being able to evidence this through live data monitoring and enhanced reporting will also be vital for any manufacturer serious about reaching net zero.
Application-specific software
We’ll start to see an increase in bespoke application-specific software throughout 2024. This will not only make it easier for customers and system integrators when it comes to programming but will also improve traceability compared with operations that are done manually.
New and improved features
We’re already seeing upgrades to existing products, giving greater functionality and allowing users to reduce downtime even further.
This trend will continue throughout 2024; the launch of our brand-new ROBODRILL model with 28-tool capacity and an extended Y-axis stroke of 500 mm is a classic example. Offering more tools and more features, it will provide an increase in both flexibility and productivity.
Smart functionality
With the constant improvements in intelligent robot systems, we expect more industrial automation users to adopt functions such as vision and force control.
These functions give the robot the ability to see and feel, allowing them to do much more complex but sometimes repetitive automated tasks, which will help to free up valuable human employees.
Education, education, education
We are seeing more and more young people becoming familiar with robotics and interested in engineering generally.
Initiatives such as the FANUC Training Academy, work experience programmes, apprenticeships and competitions such as WorldSkills UK will help to increase awareness and participation further, ensuring we have a strong pipeline of talent to secure the future of UK manufacturing.
Less manual handling
In the face of unprecedented labour shortages right across the manufacturing sector, but particularly within food & beverage, manufacturers are looking to remove manual handling whenever possible.
We therefore expect to see the continued uptake of robotics wherever products are required to be moved from one stage of the production process to another. There will also be an increased use of autonomous robot vehicles to move stock around the factory and for loading/unloading.
Not only does this help with current staffing challenges, but a reduction in manual lifting, carrying, packing and palletising will improve health and safety outcomes for employees, too.
