In order to answer some of the ‘burgeoning questions’ relating to automation in UK manufacturing, Coventry-based Fanuc UK will be holding its first-ever manufacturing, automation and digital transformation Open House on 29-31 October.

Recent figures suggest that the UK is currently falling behind other leading manufacturing nations in terms of automation.

Fanuc says there are just 71 industrial robots per 10,000 workers in the UK, positioning it behind 14 other European countries.

In contrast, Germany has 309 robots per 10,000 workers, enabling it to achieve a production rate that is 30% higher per hour than the UK’s.

Tom Bouchier, managing director of Fanuc UK, said: “Many in UK manufacturing remain suspicious of automation, with a common misconception being that it equates to a high up-front cost.

“However, automation solutions are accessible to everyone — from family-run sub-contracting businesses through to multi-national organisations.

“Our inaugural Open House will showcase a range of technologies, the aim being to address misunderstandings within UK industry and highlight how automation can drive significant improvements in productivity.”

Alongside automation will be Robodrill five-axis machining centres, Roboshot injection moulding machines (with unload automation), and Robocut wire EDM machines, with the latter undertaking high-precision aerospace applications and also demonstrating a range of software modules.

Details can be found at the Web site (one.fanuc.eu/fanucoh2019).