Can UK manufacturing raise robotics uptake by learning from Europe ?
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE AUTOMATION INSPIRATION
FANUC
Can UK manufacturing raise robotics uptake by learning from Europe ?
Despite punching well above our weight as a manufacturing powerhouse , the UK is in danger of slipping down the international rankings unless we increase our levels of automation . Now sitting at 25th in the global robotics league table , we are the only G7 nation outside the top 20 and have been eclipsed by most of our European counterparts in terms of numbers of robots per 10,00 workers , including Italy , Belgium , Switzerland and the Czech Republic . Here , factory automation leader FANUC , which has subsidiaries across the world , examines the potential reasons behind the UK ’ s reluctance to automate – and asks what we can learn from our continental cousins …
An improving picture
The benefits to UK manufacturing of robotics and automation technology are greater than ever , helping us to meet net zero targets , boost productivity and underpin our key industries . And with an estimated 70,000 vacancies in manufacturing , robots are also alleviating the longstanding labour shortages which have only worsened since Brexit and COVID .
In regard to automation uptake , it is certainly an improving picture . Led by the automotive sector , UK robot installations were up by 3 % in 2022 , with operational stock growing by 7 %. But at just 98 robots per 10,000 workers we are still well behind European leaders Germany ( 415 ).
UK : Focused on short-term ROI Among the many potential explanations for this are a focus on short-term payback rather than longer-term total cost of ownership ( TCO ); a fear of change ; outdated
Dr Bob Struijk certainly thinks so . As the Vice President of FANUC Europe
Led by the automotive sector , UK robot installations were up by 3 % in 2022 , with operational stock growing by 7 %.
perceptions of engineering as a career ; a lack of government incentives ; our reliance on cheap manual labour ; and no long-term national manufacturing strategy . While some of these are beginning to change – the government recently announced a £ 4.5bn package of support for British manufacturing , for example – should we also be looking to our European neighbours for some automation inspiration ?
Germany : Prioritising precision and innovation
Dr Bob Struijk certainly thinks so . As the Vice President of FANUC
Europe , Dr Struijk has overseen automation installations across numerous countries , and believes there are a variety of reasons why certain nations are further ahead of the UK on their automation journey .
“ Germany is the clear European automation powerhouse and owes a large part of its success to a profound respect for engineering and manufacturing ,” he explains . “ The German model emphasises the meticulous craftsmanship of products , fostering a culture that places a premium on precision and innovation . Catapulted by the automotive industry , robotics and automation have been at the forefront of bringing Germany to its position today as a manufacturing leader .”
In addition , bridging the gap between industry and academia has helped to boost German innovation . “ In Germany , collaborative efforts between industry and academia contribute to a continuous cycle of research , development and implementation , creating an ecosystem that thrives on technological advancement . The German apprenticeship system also provides a seamless flow of skilled labour into industry , at low cost . The UK can learn from this by cultivating a similar synergy between its educational institutions and industrial sector to breed a culture of continuous improvement .”
In this regard , FANUC UK is working hard to help develop a pipeline of manufacturing talent through a range of different initiatives . The company ’ s Training Academy at its Coventry HQ offers accredited
6 PECM Issue 67