Driving Change: Automation’s Impact on the Packaging Industry and Beyond

The Rise of Collaborative Robots

One of the most notable trends in the robotics industry today is the growing popularity of collaborative robots. Unlike traditional industrial robots that require extensive guarding and infrastructure, cobots are designed to work alongside people in shared spaces. “They are becoming increasingly popular because they’re easier to install and offer greater flexibility, you can move them around the factory more easily,” Wilson says.

This accessibility is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent a significant portion of the UK’s manufacturing landscape. According to Wilson, there are still tens of thousands of SMEs that have yet to adopt any form of robotic automation. “There’s a huge untapped market for robot technology, and I believe this is where we’ll see the most growth in the coming years,” he predicts.

However, he points out that most collaborative robots installed today are still working independently rather than engaging in true human-robot collaboration. “Over time, we’ll start to see more examples of genuine collaboration between people and robots, where they work closely together on shared tasks,” Wilson envisions.

The Future of Humanoid Robots

While much of the focus in automation has been on industrial and collaborative robots, there has also been growing interest in humanoid robots, particularly in China and the US. These robots are designed to mimic human capabilities and interact directly with people.

However, Wilson remains sceptical about their potential impact on manufacturing. “Personally, I don’t believe humanoid robots will have much, if any, impact on manufacturing,” he asserts. “If you’re designing a system for automation, you’ll design it in a way that standard robots can handle the tasks efficiently. You won’t need to invest in the added cost and complexity of humanoid robots unless they are required to work in environments where they must directly interact with humans and share the same space.” For Wilson then, humanoid robots are more likely to be used in those environments where direct human interaction is essential, such as healthcare or hospitality.

Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

Despite the clear benefits of robotics, there are still several barriers preventing widespread adoption in the packaging sector. One of the key obstacles in the UK has been the flexibility of the labour market. “Because we don’t typically have long-term employment contracts, as they do in parts of Europe, it’s much easier here to hire and fire people or use agency workers,” Wilson explains. This flexibility has historically deterred businesses from investing in capital equipment like robots.

However, recent factors are changing this dynamic. Labour shortages, rising employment costs, and government policies such as increases in National Insurance and the minimum wage are making automation more attractive. “There are around 50,000 vacancies in UK manufacturing alone,” Wilson points out. “Businesses are increasingly turning to automation as a solution to fill those gaps.”

Another significant barrier is the perceived cost of automation equipment. While robots are not cheap, Wilson argues that they are more affordable than many businesses realise. “You can purchase a collaborative robot and have it up and running on a production line for less than the cost of a reasonably sized family car. So, while it’s not prohibitively expensive, it’s still a significant investment. Therefore, we need to ensure businesses have access to appropriate financing options, such as leasing or rental schemes, to make automation more accessible,” he says.