AI use continues to expand in the global workplace, but most businesses are still in the experimental or piloting stages, with just a small percentage actually deriving value from it . In industrial settings, mindset is proving a barrier to greater adoption. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer found that trust in AI is lowest in developed economies like the UK, Germany and the US. This represents a real challenge because trust is fundamental to achieving the support – from boardroom to factory floor – that is needed to integrate AI in a meaningful way.

Mistrust of new technology is something the automation sector is used to dealing with. For years, industrial robots faced resistance from human workers who perceived them as a threat to their livelihoods. However, over time it has been proven that these fears are unfounded. In 2022, the Institute of Labour Economics studied the effect of robots on the labour market in 16 European countries and concluded that robot adoption actually increased employment and reduced unemployment in most markets. So let’s debunk the five most common myths.

Myth #1: AI will take my job

Picture a world without Word or Excel – it’s unimaginable. Think of AI in a similar vein, as a tool that helps people to do their jobs more efficiently by automating repetitive and mundane tasks, generating insights and intelligence that can inform decision making, accelerating lengthy testing and design processes, and making predictions that can eliminate risks.

Faced with an ageing workforce and chronic labour shortages, the manufacturing sector can also harness AI to supplement and bolster scarce expertise. Difficult-to-fill roles that involve repetitive, manual and routine tasks will be replaced by more skilled jobs that require critical thinking and analysis; AI-augmented technicians, analysts who interpret data to optimise production schedules, and AI-model builders, for example.

It is worth remembering that AI is rarely a standalone solution. In fact, companies only really unlock its value when they enable employees with real-world domain experience to interact with AI at strategic points. The synergy between AI solutions, human judgement and workplace expertise is what creates hybrid intelligence superpowers and real value capture.

In robotics, for example, AI is expanding the opportunities for collaborative applications. By embedding AI, perception and real-time reasoning – components of physical AI – robots can interpret voice commands, respond to dynamic environments and work safely alongside human operators.

Myth #2: AI puts our company’s data at risk

As with any data-based technology, there is a requirement to protect AI models, the data they process, and the broader systems they integrate with against cyber threats, data interception and operational disruption.

Yes – information inputted into free AI models can become public training data, leading to corporate secrets or personal data being exposed. However, these are not the AI systems that are going to add value in industrial settings.

Keeping it local and using internal GPU (Graphics Processing Units) and servers to run AI models offers maximum data privacy, ensuring that no sensitive data is used for external training or leaked to third-party cloud providers. On-device AI is also a high security option, as the data is processed on user devices rather than in the cloud. Where companies are using established cloud-based platforms such as Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform for their AI applications, they can be sure their data is safe too, as both offer robust security. However, using a lesser known supplier, without thorough research, could be a risky move.

Security does become a potential issue when data is being shared with a third party such as a machine supplier, for diagnostics, troubleshooting and servicing. There are best practices that can be adopted for secure sharing, such as processing data through automated checkers to remove sensitive information. Ultimately though, it is a case of working with trusted suppliers, and of controlling what data goes into the AI system in the first place.

Going forwards, AI systems are only going to become more secure as legislation catches up with technological advancement. In 2027, the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) comes into force, imposing mandatory cybersecurity requirements on all software and hardware. AI products will have to be secure by design, with no known exploitable vulnerabilities, undergo risk assessments and offer lifecycle support, including security updates.

The new FANUC R50iA controller – based on the latest CNC hardware, FS500 – is already fully CRA compliant. Over the next two years, all our robots will feature this new controller as standard, while FANUC’s oIder controllers already provide a very high level of security. FANUC customers can rest assured that they will be ahead of the cyber resilience curve, with their machines futureproofed thanks to smart, safe and compliant equipment.

Myth #3: Any system will become obsolete very quickly

The pace of development in AI is rapid, but there are certain measures that companies can take to avoid obsolescence. Open ecosystems and standardised, open-source platforms are a crucial aspect of futureproofing, particularly with the shift from generative to agentic AI.

MCP (an open-source protocol that allows AI assistants to interact with external data sources and software tools) is one standard interface of such systems. OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is another secure, open-source and platform-independent IEC62541 standard for industrial communication.

FANUC is actively collaborating with AI-trailblazer NVIDIA to bring physical AI into mainstream manufacturing. A key step in this journey is our support for the open-source robotics platform ROS 2, which enables programming via Python. By lowering the barrier to entry, this allows developers, researchers and companies to build AI-driven robotics applications on FANUC’s proven industrial hardware.

Myth #4: It won’t really improve our factory automation

AI can add value to production lines in more ways than we can currently imagine. Already, predictive maintenance is using sensor data to forecast equipment failures before they happen, vision systems are detecting defects in non-uniform products and diagnostics are dramatically reducing downtime.

AI is transforming industrial automation too, making robots smarter, safer and faster to deploy, through voice-controlled operation, adaptive motion control, safety-aware human-robot collaboration, and virtual commissioning via digital twins.

One of the most significant benefits of AI is its ability to accelerate deployment. By assisting with code generation, AI makes it easier and quicker for companies to implement robotic systems. AI-enabled robots also allow existing production lines to be retrofitted without extensive modifications, further speeding up the rollout of automation.

Myth #5: We’re not AI-ready – it’s going to cost us a fortune!

To utilise AI in manufacturing, a company does not need to be fully digitised, but it does need a solid data foundation, as ultimately, AI without data is pointless. AI requires data to be structured, contextualised and available in real-time to drive applications like predictive maintenance, quality control and line optimisation. While not every machine needs to be ‘smart’, critical equipment requires sensors to monitor performance and feed data to digital twins.

With regard to cost, one of the benefits of AI is that it is quantifiable – companies should be able to understand what their return on investment is going to be from the start and gauge at a very early stage whether a project is going to work or not.

That said, the more deeply companies commit to AI, the more they will likely get out of it. McKinsey reported that organisations with the most ambitious AI agendas are seeing the greatest benefit. These firms are often aiming to achieve more than just cost reductions; their objectives extend to driving growth and/or innovation through AI, which is where its real potential lies.

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By embedding smart sensing directly into the end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), the project provides real-time grip quality validation, ensuring precision and reliability in highly regulated, fast-moving packaging lines.

In high-speed cosmetics manufacturing, traditional robotic handling systems often struggle with lightweight, flexible components that have tight tolerances, such as deformable thermoformed trays. Whilst industrial robots excel at execution, speed and repeatability, their physical interactions present significant risks. Without tactile feedback, an imbalanced grip can lead to product loss or tray deformation. Traditional validation methods relying on simple position tracking or binary detection offer very little visibility into the actual quality of physical contact, prompting Siléane to seek a measurement-driven alternative to guarantee confidence in every cycle without slowing down the process.

Tactile intelligence at the point of interaction

Rather than increasing system complexity with external inspection steps, Siléane embedded force measurement directly at the point of interaction between the robot and the product. Partnering with HBK, Siléane integrated four factory-calibrated PW22i smart load cells – equipped with IO-Link – directly into the robotic gripper, placing one sensor at each contact point.

This Industry 4.0 setup enables the robot to validate grip quality instantly at the source, capture real-time force data, and respond immediately to any physical deviations during the gripping cycle – whilst simultaneously integrating seamlessly into modern automation architectures.

Simon Kleefeldt, HBK Product Manager Weighing Technology, explains the significance of this development: “This project reflects a fundamental shift in automation: embedding intelligence at the sensor level, to build systems that are more reliable, more autonomous and easier to deploy.”

HBK accelerated the evolution of its proven PW22 load cell – originally designed for demanding, high-speed dynamic weighing applications like checkweighing and filling – into the PW22i by integrating IO-Link connectivity to meet real-world integration demands.

Immediate operational benefits

The integration of the PW22i load cells delivered immediate operational benefits, demonstrating how physical measurement intelligence can improve manufacturing performance. For the end customer, this translates to: zero-defect grip validation in real time across all contact points; significant reductions in product scrap and tray deformation; simplified system architecture with reduced cabling via IO-Link; and faster commissioning times and improved repeatability across installations, ultimately leading to a faster return on investment (ROI).

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.

“Innovation is a core component of Delta’s corporate strategy. We consistently invest more than eight percent of our annual revenue in research and development. Design is a key aspect of this innovation strategy,” said Michael Mayer-Rosa, Senior Director of the Industrial Automation Business Group and Head of Intelligent Robot Systems (IRS) at Delta Electronics, EMEA Region.

“This award validates our team’s high standards in combining industrial robotics with a practical, safe, and efficient design. We are confident that the Delta D-Bot Robots, featuring industry-leading safety, efficiency, and practicality, will meet the demanding needs of our customers across a wide spectrum of applications.”

Delta first unveiled the collaborative robots series to the public in the spring of 2024. The series comprises six highly flexible models, each featuring six axes, payloads of up to 30 kg, and reach capabilities of up to 1,800 mm. The Delta D-Bot series also supports compatibility with OPC UA, PROFINET, EtherCAT, and Modbus TCP, allowing for seamless integration into existing industrial automation environments.

Safety at the core of product design

Collaborative robots are specifically designed to interact with humans within production environments. The “Reflex Safety” technology detects contact in real time and immediately stops robot movement to help prevent accidents and protect both personnel and equipment. The integration of advanced sensing technologies and collision detection capabilities maximise safety.

Furthermore, the Delta D-Bot series complies with IP66 protection standards and supports advanced safety protocols for operation in demanding industrial environments. Its robust design reduces susceptibility to dust and contamination while also simplifying cleaning and maintenance.

Flexible automation for production and logistics

Combined with Delta’s mobile robot platform (MAR – Mobile Autonomous Robot), the Delta D-Bot Collaborative Robot forms the hybrid mobile robotics solution “Delta Dynamic Duo”, a 2-in-1 system that automates flexible transportation and manipulation tasks such as palletising or pick-and-place operations within manufacturing and logistics settings.

The Delta D-Bot series was developed for rapid deployment across a wide range of industrial environments and designed to support diverse applications, including complex component assembly, material handling, and heavy-duty palletising. The collaborative robots combine high precision with efficient automation, helping manufacturers improve productivity and operational flexibility.

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Combining autonomous forklifts, tugs and movers on one platform, ABB Robotics enables customers to automate a broader range of material-handling and intralogistics processes. Offering market-leading accuracy, the F712 is designed for demanding material handling, end-of-line storage and warehouse operations across industries including automotive manufacturing, helping increase efficiency, flexibility and scalability.

“Across intralogistics operations, businesses are being asked to process greater volumes in less time, while working with increasingly limited resources,” said Marc Segura, President, ABB Robotics. “They are under pressure to move goods faster and with greater flexibility, while labour availability is becoming a critical constraint. As part of our journey to more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVR), we have combined advanced vision, mobility and intelligence in the Flexley Stack F712 forklift AMR, completing our scalable, AI-powered AMR portfolio.”

F712 is versatile, capable of handling multiple load types and sizes – including open and closed pallets, containers or racks- up to 2,000 kg and reaching heights of 8.5 metres.

The Flexley Stack AMR F712 joins the Flexley Tug and Flexley Mover in ABB Robotics’ growing Visual SLAM AMR portfolio. Applications include intralogistics tasks such as warehouse storage and retrieval, as well as line supply, end-of-line handling, body- and press-shop and drive-in and light buffer in the automotive and industries sector.

F712 uses Visual SLAM to map and navigate its environment, eliminating the need for pre-installed infrastructure like markers or reflectors. The AI-enabled Visual SLAM supports the autonomous decisions required to operate in complex, dynamic warehouse operations with a market-leading positional accuracy of ±10 mm. Together with AMR Studio, this shortens commissioning times by up to 20 percent and creates a versatile and reliable system that can adapt instantly when a warehouse or production floor layout changes. Certified to the latest ISO and ANSI safety standards, Flexley Stack F712 can safely operate at class-leading speeds of up to 1.7 m/s while loaded.

F712 is fully integrated with AMR Studio and is VDA5050 compatible, enabling seamless integration with ABB Robotics’ Visual SLAM AMRs and existing systems within a unified project. This makes it easy to manage complex projects and integrate different types of mobile robots. The no-code, drag-and-drop software suite supports rapid setup, fleet coordination, traffic management and real-time visualisation, allowing ABB Robotics’ tugs, movers and forklifts to operate together in the same layout for scalable turnkey automation projects.

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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.

The latest industrial robots report from the market intelligence specialist suggests that improving market sentiment, reshoring efforts in the US, and strong demand in the semiconductor and electronics sectors are among the primary reasons for growth.

Material handling and assembly are anticipated to be the key applications driving growth with 2025-30 compound growth rates of 7.0% and 6.9% respectively, as demand for efficient logistics and precise manufacturing-line assembly rises fast.

Analysts project APAC will experience the strongest shipment growth across the major regions, with an average annual growth rate of 7.1% from 2025-30. This compares with 6.2% for the Americas and 4.7% for EMEA.

Growth in global shipments will be driven by sectors such as logistics, new energy and semiconductors, while a weak automotive sector has served as a drag on industrial robot growth in the EMEA region. Interact Analysis analysts suggest this is a result of poor investment due to high interest rates in the region, leading to fewer new automation projects. This has contributed to EMEA shipments contracting by 4.9% in 2025 and has impacted sales of high-end welding and heavy-payload robots.

Despite this, automotive will remain the largest sector for industrial robots, with global shipments increasing from 171,556 shipped in 2025 to 223,864 in 2030.

On a more granular level, India will see the highest levels of growth, at 12.5% over the forecast period. In contrast, Germany will achieve a compound growth rate of just 3.7% from 2025-2030 and is predicted to see a contraction in industrial robot shipments of -0.3% in 2026.

Samantha Mou, Senior Analyst at Interact Analysis, says, “Continued growth is expected in 2026, supported by improving market sentiment, reshoring and automation demand in the US, and strong demand in the semiconductor and electronics sectors. Over the next five years, the market is projected to grow steadily, driven by robot adoption across more manufacturing processes and emerging industries.

“Revenue growth is expected to lag behind unit growth due to competition and declining average prices. However, price erosion is anticipated to slow in 2026 as robot manufacturers’ cost pressures increase amid rising oil prices.”

Collaborative robots represent fastest growing segment

While articulated robots will remain the largest robotics segment for the duration of the forecast period, its growth will be outpaced by several other robot types. Interact Analysis projects that collaborative robots will be the fastest growing segment, with an average annual shipment growth rate of 17.4% between 2025 and 2030, compared with just 5.0% for articulated robots.

SCARA robots are also projected to outpace articulated robots, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.9% between 2025 and 2030, driven by robust demand from the electronics and semiconductor industries.

Every year, Cranswick produces millions of “pigs-in-blankets” (sausages wrapped in bacon) for the Christmas market. The final stage of the process – picking the sausages off the conveyor belt and placing them in their packaging – was still performed manually, which introduced delays and other constraints. Cranswick commissioned CWM Automation to design and deliver a fully automated pick-and-place system, allowing those employees to take on more skilled tasks.

“Automating this stage of the process presented some complex challenges,” said Asa Arvidsson, regional vice president EMEA north region, Rockwell Automation. “The new system had to operate with remarkable precision and speed. With our strategic collaboration with autonox Robotics, we were able to support CWM Automation in making this possible.”

Powered by Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Kinetix VP low inertia servo motors controlled by an Allen-Bradley GuardLogix 5380 safety controller, the new end-of-line pick-and-place system accurately detects the presence and orientation of each sausage. It then uses an autonox Delta robot to pick up the sausage, properly align it and place it in the appropriate package – 240 times a minute.

“We’re very happy with the new pick-and-place system,” said Mark Lundgren, chief engineering manager at Cranswick Gourmet Sausage. “Thanks to Rockwell Automation and CWM Automation, we’re able to meet our production goals and deadlines in a way that is far more efficient and cost effective. Our labour productivity on the line is greatly increased and that means our staff not only have more skilled and comfortable jobs, they’re also often free to work on other production lines.”

“Cranswick had to have the new system up and running to meet their annual production target,” explained Mick Williams, managing director, CWM Automation, a Rockwell Automation Gold-Level OEM. “To achieve this, we worked closely with the Cranswick engineering team and the systems consultants at Rockwell Automation. It was a great cooperation, and together we met what was a very challenging deadline.”

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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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