A new dedicated trade show to highlight the importance of robotics and systems integration to the future growth of British industry is being launched by a group of trade associations.

BARA (British Automation and Robot Association) is the respected advocate of the robotics and automation industries, while UKIVA (UK Industrial Vision Association) promotes the use of machine vision technology throughout UK industry. The two bodies share an affinity based on the combined use of vision and robotics within the end-to-end production line process.

Recognising the vast potential of automation and robotics to British industry, BARA’s aim in establishing a dedicated trade show for the sectors is to shine a spotlight on the technologies and to highlight their true value to the wider economy.

Automation UK, will debut at the CBS Arena in Coventry between 20-21 June 2023, and will be the largest annual gathering of industry experts under one roof in the UK. The event has been specially designed for businesses operating in the automation and robotics markets. Showcasing the latest products and services, the exhibition will feature live demonstrations of the latest machines.

Co-located with Automation UK will be UKIVA’s MVC (Machine Vision Conference), an established industrial vision event that regularly attracts more than 500 visitors a day and features a wealth of sector-specific exhibitors and expert presentations.

Both BARA and UKIVA are part of the PPMA (Processing and Packaging Machinery Association) group, a coalition that spans the breadth of the automation and robotics sector. The PPMA itself represents and lobbies on behalf of, suppliers of processing and packaging machinery to both the domestic and overseas markets.

The PPMA group comprises more than 550 member companies and its unique structure enables it to be the authoritative voice of the automation and robotics sector, and why it delivers such a compelling offer to this new event.

The largest annual event of its kind
Automation UK, together with MVC, promises to be the largest annual event of its kind in the UK. The event will highlight the latest industrial products and services, robots, robotic systems, systems integration, automation control parts and systems, sensors and machine safety to decision makers, buyers and sellers from across the UK and beyond.



Exhibitors will span sectors including: robots and robotic systems; automated assembly machines and systems; parts handling equipment/conveyors and materials; system integrators; industrial automation control; sensors and sensor integrated systems; automatic identification and data collection/RFID; machine safety; and education and skills.

Mark Stepney, managing director of Schubert UK and a PPMA board member, said: “Automation UK and MVC will be the largest annual event in the UK to showcase leading robotic and vision suppliers. Its legitimacy is underlined by the backing of two leading industry associations – BARA and UKIVA – and is an event not to be missed.

Live demonstrations
“Aside from being able to view live demonstrations of the latest machines, talk to exhibitors face-to-face and gain the latest market intelligence from industry experts, we have a very competitive offer for exhibitors and one we believe they will find very attractive, not least because the show is open to all suppliers and prospective purchasers.”

The exhibition’s broad scope will target stakeholders from across the industrial spectrum including manufacturing, retail/consumer, automotive, electrical/electronics/engineering, aerospace and maritime, food and drink, logistics, transport and distribution, oil, gas and nuclear and many more.
The potential is vast but latest intelligence shows the automation and robotics market to be worth billions.

In the UK in 2020, annual shipments of multi-purpose industrial robots were estimated to be around 2,200 units, with 40% of these alone destined for the UK automotive industry. In 2020, there were about 23,000 industrial robots in operation in the UK.

In the period between 2011 and 2022, the sales value of automotive, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, marine and materials processing machinery manufactured in the UK have increased; Q1 in 2022 performing as the fourth strongest start to annual sales since 2011, with only 2012, 2018 and 2020 yielding higher sales. The global market for industrial robots amounted to $43.8 billion in 2021. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10%, reaching almost $70.6 billion by 2028.

Mr Stepney concluded: “Automation UK is intended to be the national automation and robotics show. As a content-led event it offers UK audiences the latest automation and robotics solutions available, all under one roof. It will be the perfect place for stakeholders to come and view the best new products and services on the market.”

“Despite headwinds, there is clear evidence that automation and robotics offer the fastest returns for businesses looking to improve their productivity and offset costs. There is also a strong desire among businesses operating in this sector to demonstrate their resilience to decision makers and buyers and to highlight the importance of the automation and robotics sectors to the future growth of UK industry.”

The future of the automation and robotics industry in the UK is set to be healthy and prosperous with UK Government investment via the ‘Made Smarter’ Industrial Strategy setting aside £455 billion in a 10-year strategy with £184 billion specifically allocated to the sector.