TCO over purchase price
Another potential barrier is the perceived cost of robotics, combined with an unrealistic attitude towards payback. In the UK, the typical expectation is that payback on an automation project will be under two years. Yet the value that the right automation solution can deliver to a manufacturing business will last far longer than that. Focusing on an unrealistic sub-two year payback can lead to businesses making compromises when developing their manufacturing strategy and getting a solution which is not fit for purpose, or choosing not to invest at all.
By contrast, prioritising total cost of ownership over initial purchase price gives a far truer representation of the real cost, and value, to a business of an automation solution. This is reflected in Europe where companies typically expect payback in three to five years – and may help to account for their higher levels of both automation and productivity( a German worker produces around onesixth more per hour than their UK counterpart).
Aside from this, it’ s also worth mentioning that the price of robots
has barely increased in the last 15 years, rising at near, and at times slightly under, inflation levels. Compare this to price rises in the automotive sector over a similar period, and it’ s clear that in 2025, robots represent good value for money. In addition, opportunities for financing automation projects have improved greatly in recent years, with options including hire purchase and robots-to-rent making solutions accessible to manufacturers of all sizes.
Leveraging automation expertise
A final barrier to consider is a perceived lack of automation expertise. Outdated perceptions of robots as complicated, difficult to programme and inflexible have prevented some manufacturers from taking the plunge, potentially impacting their ability to be competitive on both the domestic and international stage. In fact, today’ s industrial and collaborative robots are user-friendly, easy to configure and simple to operate, with many plug-and-play options now available.
What’ s more, robot suppliers such as FANUC, as well as our system integrator partners, can help to further reduce the risk of investing in automation, and make a project more attractive to potential funders. Using our automation experience and expertise, we work with manufacturers across all sectors to understand the problems they need solving, ensuring they get the right solution, at the right price, at the first time of asking.
In conclusion, today’ s automation solutions are flexible, affordable and easy to use. They can help to solve labour challenges, improve product quality and consistency, increase output, and ultimately boost the UK’ s overall productivity. The time for manufacturers to invest is now.
FANUC will be exhibiting at Smart Factory Expo 2025 in conjunction with a number of its system integrator partners on stand 5 / F40, NEC Birmingham, 4-5 June 2025.
Today’ s industrial and collaborative robots are user-friendly, easy to configure and simple to operate, with many plug-and-play options now available.
Robots can carry out palletising tasks with ease and don’ t get sick or tired. They can work 24 / 7 even in the dark, increasing output for manufacturing firms.
Robots don’ t get sick or tired, can work 24 / 7 even in the dark and carry out tasks to a consistently high level, improving product quality and increasing output for manufacturing firms. At the same time, existing workers can be upskilled and redeployed to higher value tasks, increasing job satisfaction and improving retention rates.
FDPP- www. fdpp. co. uk 45