The firm said Gray’s in-depth knowledge of the pain-points faced by SME manufacturers, combined with his technical expertise, make him the ideal candidate to lead Universal Robots UK & Ireland operations.
In his new position he will continue to educate the market on why collaborative robots are an important enabling technology for companies wishing to boost productivity, become more competitive and create more jobs.
He is also tasked with raising awareness of specific issues arising from Brexit and the pandemic that increased automation can help address. For example, restricted access to migrant labour and fluctuating order volumes for specific goods.
Gray said: “UK manufacturing is undergoing a period of transformation greater than anything seen since the Victorian era. It’s an incredibly exciting time for the industry and I’m delighted to be playing an active role in ensuring UK SMEs are able to access the benefits of automation.
"Although there’s a certain amount of trepidation around robotics in the UK and Ireland, we’ve shown time and time again the fantastic benefits that cobots can deliver, from cost-savings to quality excellence. Furthermore, for many companies, particularly in manufacturing, cobots can be a great tool to bring organisational agility, which I’m sure will prove an invaluable asset to navigate the turbulent times ahead.”
Jacob Pascual Pape, sales director for South EMEA and UK at Universal Robots, added: “In his time at Universal Robots Mark has consistently demonstrated a nuanced understanding of our customers and how they can get the most from our technology.
"It’s pleasing to know our UK & Ireland operations are in such good hands as we look to grow our footprint in the territories and to continually enhance the support we offer to our channel, our partners and our end users.”
