Visitors to stand M08 will be able to explore how integrated automation and machine-building expertise can help manufacturers create more flexible, connected production systems.

The main feature on the stand will be a machine from SP Automation & Robotics incorporating Beckhoff’s XPlanar planar motor system. XPlanar uses individually controlled movers that travel freely over a planar surface, allowing products to be transported and positioned without the restrictions of a conventional linear conveyor.

The demonstration will highlight the wider relationship between the two companies. SP Automation & Robotics is a Beckhoff Solution Provider and designs and builds bespoke automation machinery, while Beckhoff provides an integrated automation platform spanning control, motion, I/O and software. Together, the technologies can support applications ranging from robotic handling and machine vision to flexible production and the integration of new automation into existing manufacturing processes.

“Manufacturers increasingly need automation systems that can adapt as their production requirements change,” explained Alan Smith, operations manager at Beckhoff UK & Ireland. “That means looking beyond individual components and considering how motion, control, software and the machine itself work together.

“Working with SP Automation & Robotics allows us to demonstrate that approach in a practical way. Visitors will be able to see Beckhoff technology integrated into a real machine and talk to both teams about how flexible automation could be applied to their own production challenges.”

The Scotland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition brings together manufacturers, engineers, technology providers and other organisations from across Scottish industry, with topics including advanced manufacturing, digitalisation and supply chain development. Beckhoff is also a silver sponsor of this year’s event, reinforcing its support for Scotland’s manufacturing and engineering community.

Visitors to stand M08 will be able to meet technical specialists from Beckhoff and SP Automation & Robotics and discuss applications including special-purpose machinery, robotic automation, flexible production and the integration of automation technology into existing manufacturing environments.

Following the two-day event, FANUC’s Coventry HQ will also play host to the annual BARA Conference, taking place on Thursday 5 November.

Combining expert guidance with practical solutions, this year’s Open House will bring together expert-led seminars, panel debates, industry discussions and real-world case studies. In addition, an extensive exhibition running throughout the event will showcase the latest robotic technology from FANUC and more than 30 of its system integrator partners and suppliers, showing solutions spanning every corner of British manufacturing from engineering, food and packaging to pharma, plastics and toolmaking.

Solutions as flexible as your business

This year’s event will have a particular focus on supporting SMEs to realise their automation potential. Presentations and demonstrations will feature practical, easy-to-implement technology designed to deliver immediate value, as well as the ability to flex as a business evolves.

“Today’s intelligent automation solutions are fast, consistent and adaptable, as well as being extremely reliable,” says Andy Armstrong, FANUC UK’s Managing Director. “Unlike complicated robotic systems of the past, they’re simple to operate and can be easily integrated into existing lines, complementing older machinery to enhance working practices, increase efficiency and boost productivity. At our 2026 Open House event, we’ll be demonstrating just how far automation has evolved in the past few years, showcasing solutions that are user-friendly and cost-efficient. With the UK currently sitting outside the global top 10 in terms of manufacturing output, automation is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for British manufacturers – it’s a business necessity.”

Live robotic demonstrations

Alongside an exhibition of technology from over 30 of FANUC’s partner companies, visitors can also experience the latest in robotic innovation from FANUC itself. Live demonstrations at the Open House will include:

• ‘First step’ automation using CRX collaborative robots for tasks such as entry-level palletising and simple welding.
• All-electric injection moulding capabilities with the FANUC ROBOSHOT, plus reliable, consistent drilling tasks with the FANUC ROBODRILL.
• User-friendly CNC controls and scalable Power Motion display.

In-depth expert guidance

Finally, an impressive line-up of speakers from across the manufacturing and automation spectrum will share their insights and advice on how to select the right automation solution for your business. Panel discussions will include:

• Getting started with automation in manufacturing.
• Solving labour challenges, tackling cultural change and mindset, and implementing modern technology.
• Understanding real-world ROI: Taking the long-term view.
• CRA regulations and machinery developments: What you need to know.

“This year’s Open House is a must-attend for any UK SME, offering expert support and real-world automation solutions to improve product consistency, increase efficiency and alleviate staffing issues,” says Dan Fisher, FANUC UK’s Head of Sales. “We look forward to demonstrating the latest robotic technology that can really make a difference to every manufacturing business.”

Click here to register your interest in attending the free FANUC UK Open House event (3-4 November 2026, Ansty Park, Coventry).

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Advances in AI and 3D have accelerated the adoption of machine vision in the high-volume, fast-paced world of logistics. These organisations are leveraging solutions across use cases including conveyor belt blockage detection, parcel anomaly and defect inspection, space utilisation, label compliance and verification, and vision-guided robotic picking and sortation.

“Our manufacturing customers are solving their visual inspection challenges with 2D, 3D, and AI machine vision solutions by Zebra and its partners,” said Paul Eyre, Global Director, Machine Vision, Zebra Technologies. “Now we’re seeing a huge opportunity for logistics organisations to use AI and 3D to intelligently automate workflows and gain better asset and inventory visibility.”

At Zebra’s stand (Hall 8, B40), attendees will meet Zebra’s machine vision team (including Photoneo, now part of Zebra Technologies) and engage with a range of new demonstrations.

NS42 smart vision sensor with new AI features

Zebra will showcase the NS42 AI smart vision sensor with new deep learning classification and deep learning segmentation capabilities, alongside its current deep learning anomaly detection and deep learning optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities.

Engineered to meet the challenging needs of modern production and delivery processes, it comes with a neural processing unit (NPU) which is optimised to accelerate AI and machine learning algorithms, and the computational power and memory capacity to take on the most intensive AI tasks.

Date codes, lot codes, part numbers, and serial numbers running on a line are read using OCR with a pre-trained deep learning-based model. The NS42 can comfortably tackle the most challenging text-reading use cases including embossed characters, laser marks, poor contrast, and inconsistent print.

Its anomaly detection capabilities come with industrial-grade reliability, using heatmaps to show where an anomaly is and how bad it is, catching anomalies a rule-based check may miss. Automated image comparison flags deviations from reference samples, saving considerable time and resources on training and deployment.

CV70 machine vision camera

The new CV70 CXP machine vision camera is a high-performance solution for high-speed, high-resolution applications, available in single- or dual-link models with ultra-high bandwidth and low latency.

As the smallest dual-link CXP camera on the market, it operates via passive cooling while offering a broad operating temperature range in small enclosures, allowing for installations into tight spaces without sacrificing speed or resolution.

AI conveyor blockage detection

Zebra Iris GTX smart cameras have fast, high-resolution image sensing and can be positioned to monitor package movement and cover an entire conveyor area. Integrated with AI-powered Zebra Aurora software, this solution identifies true and false conveyor blockages as they happen.

When a genuine blockage is identified, the system instantly triggers an alert and provides image confirmation, enabling operators to prevent false alarms, minimise downtime, and maximise operational throughput.

Unveiling Aurora VGR Studio and industry insights

Zebra will unveil its newly branded Aurora Vision Guided Robotics (VGR) Studio to expand on its broader Aurora machine vision software portfolio. Stand demonstrations will show how Aurora VGR Suite’s powerful AI and 3D capabilities are engineered for warehouse and logistics operations.

Senior executives from Zebra will also deliver a presentation on “AI and 3D Machine Vision For The World’s Biggest Workforce – The Frontline” on Wednesday, 7 Oct., 14:00, Hall 8. The presentation will feature logistics industry research insights, current challenges, and new AI and 3D machine vision real-life customer use cases.

Shortlisted in three categories at the Automate UK Awards – which is being held on the evening of the second day of the PPMA Show – Tekpak is renowned for solving complex packaging line challenges with its proven, modular automation solutions which are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing lines, fit constrained spaces and enable tool-less changeovers.

The centrepiece of the company’s stand this year will be the TD3/R Series – a dynamic 3-axis robotic pick-and-place cell suitable for loading or stacking products into trays, cases, cartons, a thermoformer or a flow-wrapper infeed.

This compact automated system is flexible, offers rapid size change capability and features a quick-change gripper for multiple formats. Ideal in cleanroom environments or where space is limited, it’s also highly accurate thanks to robot positional accuracy of ±0.1mm and position tracking using vision control. In addition, the system is easy to use thanks to accessible touch-screen displays and boasts gentle handling and optimal safety functions.

“The PPMA Show is the highlight of the UK’s processing and packaging calendar, showcasing the innovative and creative technologies on the market right now to help manufacturers address key challenges such as rising energy costs and staff shortages,” says Ian Marks, Tekpak Automation’s Head of UK Sales.

“At Tekpak, we strive to support customers in reducing their operational costs while improving their OEE with our range of reliable, modular automation solutions. We can’t wait to demonstrate this to visitors to our stand, where they can see a live example of one of our most popular pick-and-place cells in action.”

In further evidence of Tekpak’s excellence in automation, the company has been shortlisted in three separate categories at the Automate UK Awards 2026. Taking place at The Vox, Birmingham on night two of the PPMA Show (23 Sept), Tekpak will compete to be named the best of the best in the following areas thanks to an impressive pick-and-place cell they recently installed for a manufacturer of transdermal patches: Innovative Packaging Machinery; Innovative Robotics/Automation Solution; and Innovative Vision Solution.

“To be nominated in not just one but three categories against such an impressive line-up of OEMs is an honour in itself,” states Ian. “We are very much looking forward to celebrating the best of British automation technology at this year’s Automate UK Awards.”

The solution expands the working area by adding a movable 7th axis and enables a cobot to be used at multiple stations within a single system. This allows production processes to be structured more flexibly and robot systems to be utilised more efficiently.

The MovoTrak CTU is robustly built and designed for a wide range of applications. It is based on two linear units that ensure maximum torque load and rigidity even when the robot arm is fully extended. Building on these linear units, Rodriguez supplies a complete system including motors, gearboxes, and application-specific configuration.

Designed for those curious about how robots think, move and solve problems this interactive discovery day is perfect for beginners and will introduce them to the fundamentals of robotics and programming in a fun, supportive and practical environment. Students will explore how robots are designed, built and programmed to address real-world challenges, providing attendees with an introduction to robotics and programming, while developing their practical engineering and problem-solving skills.

Run on the same principles of NMITE’s pedagogy of hands-on learning, and led by Professor Alexandru Stancu, Professor of Engineering: Drones & Autonomous Vehicles, attendees will be able to experience some of what makes NMITE special, which has enabled it to become a sought-after university in just five years since it opened for students in 2021.

Professor Stancu said “I and my other engineering colleagues can’t wait to share some of our knowledge and expertise at this first-ever robotics discovery day. You’ll get hands on experience working with robotics hardware and code and by the end of the day you will have developed your confidence by taking your first steps into robotics, engineering and solving real-world challenges. who knows, it may turn out to be the first step in journey to becoming a robot engineer.”

In the morning session, attendees will learn all about building a robot including how to assemble a working robot from its component parts.  Attendees will explore the key elements of robotics, including sensors, motors and controllers and will understand how hardware works together to create an autonomous robot.

The afternoon session will focus on coding and navigation during which the basics of coding for robotics will be explained and then there is the opportunity to programme a robot to complete simple navigation challenges, testing, troubleshooting and improving the robot’s performance.

No previous coding or robotics experience required. Just bring your curiosity. Spaces are limited – so book early to avoid disappointment.

LG Motion (Stand 46) will be showcasing Techman Robot (TM Robot) collaborative robots at MachineBuilding.South with a number of demos, along with electro-mechanical motion control systems. LG Motion managing director Gary Livingstone has also authored a book: Lean Robotic Automation provides a clear and practical framework for implementing robotics successfully, combining proven Lean principles with real-world automation experience.

“Robots can deliver incredible results, but only when they’re applied in the right way,” said Gary. “This book is about taking a structured, Lean approach to robotic automation so projects are simpler, outcomes are clearer, and businesses get real value from their investment.”

For its part, OMRON (Stand 70) has expanded its TM S Series collaborative robot portfolio with three new models and a major software update, supporting manufacturers facing labour shortages and increasing requirements for flexible, high-mix production. The TM30S, TM20S and TM6S extend the series’ payload and reach capabilities for applications such as palletising, machine tending and precision handling.

Across the S Series, OMRON has introduced upgrades to increase durability and support faster redeployment. All robot arms now feature an IP65 rating for use in washdown or dust-prone environments. Higher-payload units (TM25S, TM30S) incorporate an integrated joint 6 force-torque wrist sensor for improved force-controlled processes. The updated Landmark 2.0 vision-based positioning system is designed to reduce recalibration time when moving robots between stations.

OMRON has also released TMflow 2.22, an update to its no-code programming environment. The new version introduces more granular safety configuration options, expanded remote monitoring and diagnostics, and a higher-fidelity simulation engine. Integrated vision tools have been strengthened to support inspection and pick-and-place tasks with greater accuracy.

With the TM30S, TM20S, and TM6S alongside crucial upgrades like IP65 certification and the integrated joint 6 force torque sensor, OMRON says it is empowering customers to automate their most challenging, heavy-duty tasks with greater safety, precision, and flexibility than ever before. TMflow 2.22 ensures that this immense power remains easy to program and manage, upholding OMRON’s commitment to harmonious automation.

JAKA Robotics (Stand 78) is emphasising the wide range of applications for collaborative robots, including picking, packing, machine tending, and quality inspection. Their flexibility allows businesses to deploy them across different roles and processes, making them incredibly versatile tools that can enhance productivity in multiple aspects of production.

JAKA continues to advance the conversation around collaborative robotics, arguing that, with proven adaptability, safety measures and intelligence, cobots are crucial allies for any business looking to enhance productivity and workforce safety, no matter the size of operations.

Delta robots

Following its new partnership with Englert Robotics, HMK (Stand 41) is excited to be overviewing delta robot technology on the stand – perfect for high-performance handling applications. Englert’s modular platform offers exceptional flexibility, with a wide range of sizes, payloads, and configurable options, including different material combinations to suit hygiene-critical, high-speed or harsh environments. This flexibility makes the robots ideal for applications across packaging, food, pharma, electronics, logistics and recycling.

A key advantage is the open, standards‑based approach to control integration, supporting Siemens, KEBA and other leading control platforms. This gives OEMs full freedom to align with their existing architectures while avoiding vendor lock‑in.

As the UK partner for Englert Robotics, HMK offers OEMs multiple delivery options – from mechanical‑only Delta robot systems, through mechanics supplied with motors and drives, to fully engineered and integrated mechatronic solutions. By combining Englert’s advanced mechanical design with HMK’s control, motion and systems expertise, HMK provides flexible, high‑performance and cost‑optimised robotic solutions tailored to each requirement.

A key requirement for robotics applications is some sort of end-of-arm gripper, and PIAB (Stand 83) offers a huge range of suction cups, including the recently introduced BCP40 is a suction cup dedicated to automated handling of corrugated cardboard boxes in packaging and intralogistics. BCP40 combines long stroke, high stability and sustainable materials in a cost‑efficient design optimized for high‑throughput box handling.

Another innovative product in the PIAB range is new 3-finger piSOFTGRIP 40-3, developed for the food and chocolate industry. Based on the proven piSOFTGRIP 30-3, the new model increases gripping capacity up to 40 mm while keeping the same concept and ease of use.

The vacuum-based soft gripper safely handles sensitive, lightweight products with irregular shapes or surfaces. Its one-piece, sealed design with three gripping fingers is robust, dust-insensitive, and allows easy adjustment of gripping force via the vacuum level – ensuring gentle and reliable handling across a wider range of applications.

As robot systems become more advanced and connected, ensuring functional safety and compliance is becoming increasingly complex. With the release of ISO 10218:2025, organisations must understand what’s changed and how to apply it in practice.

The webinar will cover: key updates introduced in ISO 10218:2025; how to select and apply effective safeguarding measures; designing and validating functional safety systems; and reducing risk and achieving compliance in real-world applications.

The webinar will be presented by Hefin Llewellyn-Evans, Technical Trainer (Functional Safety), TUV SUD. With hands-on experience delivering safety-critical projects in manufacturing environments, Hefin brings practical insight into applying functional safety in modern robotics.

If you can’t join live, register anyway, and you’ll be sent the webinar recording so you won’t miss any of the valuable insights.

This is a finding of the 2026 automatica Trend Index. The survey was commissioned by automatica and a total of 100 German specialists and executives responsible for taking decisions on the adoption of robotics and automation in their respective companies participated.

“China has been consistently pursuing a national robotics strategy for years to systematically capitalize on the opportunities offered by modern automation”, says Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association. “Beijing’s latest five-year plan places smart robotics at the very center of its development goals. Thus, they are ushering in a new era of humanoid robots with the goal of developing an embodied intelligence integrating AI software with physical robotics. Plans are in place for entirely new practical AI applications promoting industrial and commercial automation.”

Robotics and automation crucial for competitiveness

Smart robotics is considered a pivotal field of innovation in Germany, too: 78 percent of respondents believe that AI and robotics deployment is indispensable for keeping the German industry competitive. The automatica Trend Index also found that humanoid robots already play an important role in industrial production (85 %) – even though 68 percent of the respondents still primarily operate pilot projects without large-scale adoption.

Exhibition Director Anja Schneider comments: “Humanoid robotics is a particularly striking example of physical AI as it presents AI in human-like form as it interacts with the physical world. We can already say that physical AI and humanoid robotics will be the key topics at automatica 2027.”

A solid foundation: Germany in the top 3

Humanoid platforms are illustrative of future automation use cases requiring the combined expertise of various disciplines. In this framework, traditional mechanical engineering know-how joins forces with modern systems technology, sensor technology, and AI-based software development.

The so-called physical AI deployed here requires realistic and properly processed production data acquired by sensors. Germany is in a great position to adopt this technology due to its advanced production facilities. With 449 installed industrial robots per 10,000 employees, Germany has one of the greatest robot densities in the world and, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), takes third place right behind South Korea and Singapore.

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Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and beverage and FMCG environments, the session combined expert insight with live demonstrations and real-world application examples.

Throughout the morning, visitors had the opportunity to explore how cobots can help tackle ongoing industry challenges such as labour shortages, the need for improved consistency, and increasing pressure to deliver strong return on investment.

A key focus of the day was showcasing practical applications, with live demonstrations covering processes such as palletising, packaging, pick and place, and material handling. These demonstrations helped illustrate how flexible automation solutions can be deployed across a range of end of line tasks to improve productivity, quality, and ergonomics on the factory floor.

The event was specifically aimed at end users, providing a valuable opportunity to meet with experts from across the automation supply chain in one location. Attendees were able to speak directly with specialists in grippers, vision systems, robotics and integration, enabling them to gain tailored advice and discuss their individual production challenges in detail.

Integral to the success of the day was the support of four integration partners: Olympus Technologies (Adam Swallow), Protec (Alex Neal), Robotics and Automation (Mike Sharpe), and Jention (Russell Scion).

Each partner showcased a range of cobot-driven applications relevant to the food industry, demonstrating how collaborative robotics can be effectively applied to both packing and processing operations. These hands-on examples helped bring automation concepts to life, allowing visitors to see first-hand how solutions could be implemented in their own facilities.

The Masterclass also created a collaborative environment for networking and knowledge exchange, with attendees ranging from production managers and engineers to business leaders exploring automation strategies.

Overall, the event delivered on its aim to provide practical, actionable insight into food and beverage automation. Attendees left with a stronger understanding of where cobots can add value within their operations, as well as clear next steps for beginning or expanding their automation journey.

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