The University of Bradford is main a £3.67 million Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub after securing £2.75 million in funding from Innovate UK to assist producers undertake robotics and automation applied sciences.
The Hub is designed to handle one of many greatest limitations to productiveness in UK trade.
The 42-month programme has secured £2.75 million in grant funding and brings collectively the College of Bradford, West Yorkshire Manufacturing Companies (WYMS), the College of Huddersfield and Olympus Applied sciences, alongside a wider community of producers, know-how companions and regional stakeholders.
Very important position
The Hub has been created in response to a rising adoption hole inside UK manufacturing. Whereas 73% of producing SMEs say they intend to put money into automation, comparatively few progress to implementation. The UK at present operates round 104 robots per 10,000 manufacturing staff, considerably under the worldwide common of 177.
The Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub will assist companies transfer from preliminary curiosity by feasibility, enterprise case improvement and provider choice to full deployment. The programme goals to have interaction greater than 300 producers, ship 80 feasibility research and help no less than 30 robotics deployments.
Professor Ben Whiteside, Principal Investigator, Director of the Institute of Digital and Sustainable Futures on the College of Bradford, stated: “Yorkshire has one of many strongest manufacturing bases within the nation, but too many companies nonetheless battle to maneuver from curiosity in robotics to profitable deployment.
“The problem isn’t that corporations don’t wish to automate. The problem is that many lack the time, experience or confidence to take the subsequent step.
“This Hub brings collectively universities, producers, know-how suppliers and enterprise help organisations to bridge that hole. By serving to companies undertake confirmed applied sciences, we are able to enhance productiveness, strengthen provide chains and help long-term financial development throughout the area.
“Importantly, our ambition extends past Yorkshire. We wish to create a mannequin that may be replicated elsewhere, serving to producers throughout the UK profit from robotics, automation and digital applied sciences.”
Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Professional-Vice-Chancellor for Analysis, Innovation and International Engagement, stated: “Universities play a significant position in translating innovation into financial impression. This Hub is a strong instance of how analysis experience, trade data and regional collaboration can come collectively to resolve real-world challenges, serving to companies develop, enhancing productiveness and supporting the industries of the long run.”
The venture combines educational experience in robotics, AI, digital twins, machine imaginative and prescient and superior manufacturing with sensible industrial expertise, creating what companions imagine is a singular path to adoption for manufacturing SMEs.
Professor Andrew Longstaff, analysis director on the College of Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision Applied sciences and Hub lead for the College, stated: “Yorkshire’s producers have huge potential to profit from robotics and automation, however many want help to determine the best applied sciences and implement them efficiently.
“The Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub will carry collectively experience from trade and academia to assist companies make knowledgeable choices and undertake options with confidence.
“By accelerating the uptake of confirmed robotics and automation applied sciences, we are able to strengthen productiveness, resilience, and competitiveness throughout the area. In doing so, we goal to create lasting impression that extends past Yorkshire and contributes to the long run development of producing throughout the UK.”
How will it work?
The Hub is grounded in actual industrial demand. Main producers together with Myton Meals Group and Groupe Atlantic will present reside use circumstances, entry to produce chains of over 300 regional suppliers, and routes to scale adoption, making certain a demand-led programme embedded in operational environments.
Supply follows a stage-gated mannequin, progressing SMEs from engagement by feasibility to deployment, supported by demonstrators, ROI modelling and hands-on technical enter.
The programme will interact over 300 producers, ship 80 feasibility research and allow no less than 30 deployments, producing financial impression exceeding the grant whereas establishing a sustained adoption pipeline.
The consortium is supported by regional and nationwide stakeholders, together with West Yorkshire Mixed Authority (WYCA) and Made Smarter Yorkshire &Humber, confirming strategic alignment and market demand.
The Hub will function throughout Yorkshire, targeted on the M62 and M1/A1 industrial corridors, the place manufacturing exercise is most concentrated. A central base at WYMS will likely be complemented by a distributed community of demonstrators and ‘lighthouse websites’, offering regional attain with out further infrastructure.
Adam Swallow, managing director of Olympus Applied sciences, a key associate within the venture, stated: “We’re keen about supporting SMEs’ aspirations to develop their companies by robotic automation. This Hub gives a step change in our capacity to get alongside companies, deal with their considerations, and improve the variety of companies adopting automation.”
The hub was launched at a roundtable occasion on the College of Lincoln following a spherical desk dialogue led by Minister for AI, the Rt Hon Kanishka MP. Narayan.
Most important picture (from left): Adam Swallow, managing director of Olympus Applied sciences and Gavin Jamieson (Olympus Applied sciences), Mark Lewis, CEO of West Yorkshire Manufacturing Companies, Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Professor Ben Whiteside and Jing Li from the College of Bradford. Credit score: College of Bradford.
