Wider automation uptake is needed to realise true value of UK manufacturing sector, claims Fanuc

Speaking at the first day of Fanuc UK’s Open House event in Coventry (November 12-14, 2024), Bouchier cited that, despite the UK’s heritage as a leading manufacturing nation, it has slipped to 12^th place in the global manufacturing league table.

“This is in part due to our reluctance to automate, which is in turn impacting productivity levels. Manufacturing already contributes so much to the UK – it directly accounts for 8 per cent of our GDP, with its wider impact when looking down the supply chain driving up this figure to an impressive 23 per cent,” he said.

“Yet we are well below the global average for automation uptake of 162 robots per 10,000 workers, at just 119 robots per 10,000 workers. Increasing automation levels will not only help manufacturers combat labour challenges and sustainability concerns, it will also increase our productivity levels and enable us to compete globally as a leading manufacturing nation, benefiting not only the sector but the country as a whole.”

Fanuc hosts its annual Open House with the aim to showcase the full spectrum of industrial automation. The event combines expert presentations, panel debates and end-user case studies with hands-on robot demonstrations, an exhibition area, and the live finals of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition.

The opening of this year’s event was marked with official visits by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Simon Ward, Mayor of Rugby.

“Automation can help to transform our manufacturing and engineering sectors, not just in the West Midlands but across the UK. We need to ensure that manufacturing isn’t just the history of our region; with automation and technology, it can be our future, too,” Parker told the event, which was hosted at Fanuc’s facility at Ansty Park, Coventry.

“Events such as this are vital if we are to continue building for our future. My mayoral theme is youth, and it’s encouraging to hear about the work that FANUC is doing to engage young people into a career in engineering. However, it’s clear that we need to catch up with our global counterparts when it comes to productivity – through automation, and by engaging with our future workforce, we can help to do this,” Ward added.

The event’s first session was a joint presentation on unlocking the full potential of industrial robotics by Airbus’ Marco Chacin and Oliver Selby, Head of Sales for Fanuc UK and BARA Chair. Marco outlined the challenges of integrating automation into the aerospace industry – a sector which, due to the size of parts, safety requirements and slow cycle times, is still heavily reliant on manual labour.

Chacin explained that the need to drill 100 million holes each year became a key driver for the use of robotics at Airbus. Collaboration with Fanuc led to the development of a brand-new 'highly accurate, highly stiff' drilling robot (the M-800iA/60) which is now in use across Airbus’ production line.

“More and more, the conversations we’re having with customers are centred around collaboration and commitment,” said Selby. “Whether working in partnership with OEMs like FANUC, catapults such as the AMRC, or educational institutions like Sheffield University, barriers to automation are being unlocked, helping manufacturers to increase their productivity and futureproof their operations.”

Following on from the success of the first day of Fanuc’s Open House event, Day two (Wednesday, November 13) will focus on education, featuring speeches by current engineering apprentices. Day three (Thursday, November 14) will centre on UK Automation 2030, including a presentation on integrating automation into SMEs by the West Midlands Robotics Cluster.