BARA (British Automation & Robot Association) is the respected advocate of the robotics and automation industries, while UKIVA (UK Industrial Vision Association) promotes the use of machine vision technology throughout UK industry. The two bodies share an affinity based on the combined use of vision and robotics within the end-to-end production line process.
Recognising the vast potential of automation and robotics to British industry, BARA’s aim in establishing a dedicated trade show for the sectors is to shine a spotlight on the technologies and to highlight their true value to the wider economy. Automation UK, which debuts at the CBS Arena in Coventry between 20-21 June 2023, will be the largest annual gathering of industry experts under one roof in the UK.
The event has been specially designed for businesses operating in the automation and robotics markets. Showcasing the latest products and services, the show will feature live demonstrations of the latest machines.
Co-located at Automation UK will be UKIVA’s MVC (Machine Vision Conference), an established industrial vision ConFex that regularly attracts more than 500 visitors a day and features a wealth of sector-specific exhibitors and expert presentations.
Both BARA and UKIVA are part of the PPMA (Processing and Packaging Machinery Association) group, a coalition that spans the breadth of the automation and robotics sector. The PPMA itself represents and lobbies on behalf of, suppliers of processing and packaging machinery to both the domestic and overseas markets.
The PPMA group comprises more than 550 member companies and its unique structure enables it to be the authoritative voice of the automation and robotics sector, and why it delivers such a compelling offer to this new event.
Taking place in one of the finest exhibition venues in the country, Automation UK, together with MVC, will be the largest annual event of its kind in the UK. The unique, must-attend event will highlight the latest industrial products and services, robots, robotic systems, systems integration, automation control parts and systems, sensors and machine safety to an eager array of decision makers, buyers and sellers from across the UK and beyond.
Exhibitors will span sectors including:• Robots / Robotic Systems
• Automated Assembly Machines & Systems
• Parts Handling Equipment/Conveyors and materials
• System Integrators
• Industrial Automation Control
• Sensors and Sensor Integrated Systems
• Automatic Identification & Data Collection/RFID
• Machine safety
• Education & Skills
Mark Stepney, managing director of Schubert UK and a PPMA board member, said: “Automation UK and MVC will be the largest annual event in the UK to showcase leading robotic and vision suppliers. Its legitimacy is underlined by the backing of two leading industry associations – BARA and UKIVA – and will be an event not to be missed.
“Aside from being able to view live demonstrations of the latest machines, talk to exhibitors face-to-face and gain the latest market intelligence from industry experts, we have a very competitive oer for exhibitors and one we believe they will find very attractive, not least because the show is open to all suppliers and prospective purchasers.”
The exhibition’s broad scope will target stakeholders from across the industrial spectrum including manufacturing, retail/consumer, automotive, electrical/electronics/engineering, aerospace and maritime, food and drink, logistics, transport and distribution, oil, gas & nuclear and many more.
The potential is vast but latest intelligence shows the automation and robotics market to be worth billions. In the UK in 2020, annual shipments of multipurpose industrial robots were estimated to be around 2,200 units, with 40 percent of these alone destined for the UK automotive industry.
In 2020, there were about 23,000 industrial robots in operation in the UK. In the period from 2011 and 2022, the sales value of automotive, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, marine & materials processing machinery manufactured in the UK have increased; Q1 in 2022 performing as the fourth strongest start to annual sales since 2011, with only 2012, 2018 & 2020 yielding higher sales.
The global market for industrial robots amounted to $43.8BN in 2021. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10 percent, reaching almost $70.6BN by 2028.
"Automation UK is intended to be the national automation and robotics show. As a content-led event it offers UK audiences the latest automation and robotics solutions available, all under one roof. It will be the perfect place for stakeholders to come and view the best new products and services on the market,” added Stepney.
"Despite headwinds, there is clear evidence that automation and robotics offer the fastest returns for businesses looking to improve their productivity and offset costs. There is also a strong desire amongst businesses operating in this sector to demonstrate their resilience to decision makers and buyers and to highlight the importance of the automation and robotics sectors to the future growth of UK industry.”
The future of the Automation and Robotics industry in the UK is set to be healthy and prosperous with UK Government investment via the "Made Smarter" Industrial Strategy which has set aside £455bn in a 10-year strategy with £184bn specifically allocated to automation and robotics.
