The UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has launched a brand new Robotic Expertise Centre (REC), designed to assist UK producers speed up the adoption of robotics and automation applied sciences.
Positioned at MTC’s Ansty Park web site in Coventry, the vendor-neutral facility will allow producers to discover, check and validate robotics options earlier than making funding choices.
The REC contains three devoted areas: a modular automation and robotics sandpit for venture growth and experimentation; an indication area for purposes together with welding, palletising and machine tending; and a collaborative robotic growth space.
Alongside entry to robotic and automation applied sciences, the centre will supply coaching and skilled assist to assist companies construct expertise, improve confidence and efficiently implement automation options.
The initiative has been developed to handle the persistent boundaries to robotics adoption throughout UK manufacturing, notably amongst SMEs, the place challenges round expertise, procurement and implementation proceed to hinder deployment.
A brand new coaching programme – Robotics and Automation Adoption for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises – will present sensible steerage on evaluating, procuring and integrating robotics applied sciences.
To assist producers past the preliminary adoption stage, MTC is establishing partnerships with system integrator companions.
These collaborations will assist companies transition extra successfully from proof of idea to manufacturing, lowering implementation challenges, minimising re-engineering and accelerating the supply and cost-effectiveness of automation initiatives.
As well as, via the REC, MTC will join potential adopters of robotics with a panel of financing suppliers to assist them discover essentially the most appropriate funding choice.
Commenting on the function of the Robotic Expertise Centre in serving to producers overcome boundaries to automation adoption, Mike Wilson, chief automation officer at MTC, stated: “The Robotic Expertise Centre is about serving to companies perceive what automation can do for them in a sensible and accessible means.
“For a lot of producers, particularly SMEs, the problem isn’t recognising the potential advantages of robotics – it’s figuring out the place to start out.
“By giving companies entry to testbeds, experience and coaching beneath one roof, we’re serving to them to make investments that may enhance productiveness, strengthen competitiveness, and finally, assist long-term development for UK manufacturing.”
The centre was formally opened by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. Talking on the launch, he stated: “If we wish to assist extra companies within the West Midlands to modernise manufacturing, keep aggressive and develop, we’ve obtained to make it simpler for them to get the assist they want – whether or not that’s new expertise, funding or the best experience.
“That’s why we’re working extra intently with organisations throughout the area to affix issues up and supply assist that truly works for companies on the bottom.
“We’re already doing that via programmes just like the West Midlands Funding Zone Provide Chain Transition Programme, collaborating with companions together with the MTC to again producers and assist them transfer ahead.
“The Robotic Expertise Centre is strictly the type of functionality that helps this wider method, serving to extra corporations see what’s doable, construct confidence and take that subsequent step to make the funding they should develop with confidence.”
