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Automate UK The leading trade association for automation suppliers and end users of technology across processing, packaging, robotics and machine vision.

Welcome to Automate UK, the new home of PPMA Group. Simply follow us here and you’ll find everything you need in one place. From upcoming events, products and services to expert insights and the latest industry news. We’re thrilled to have you with us on our exciting journey.

The biggest barrier to robotics adoption often isn’t the technology. It’s skills.That’s what our project with Universit...
22/10/2026

The biggest barrier to robotics adoption often isn’t the technology. It’s skills.

That’s what our project with University is focused on, and next month we’re heading to Milton Keynes to share what we’ve been working on.

On 19 November, we’ll be joining Innovate UK at the Robotics Adoption Programme: Meet the Hubs and Skills Projects event.

The day brings together the new Robotics Adoption Hubs, skills development projects and organisations from across the UK robotics community, with presentations, an exhibition and time to network.

If you’re thinking about how your business could adopt robotics, or how to build the skills to make it work, come and say hello.

📅 19 November 2026
📍 Unity Place, Milton Keynes

Places are limited and an expression of interest doesn’t guarantee a place, so register early.

👉 Express your interest: https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/49ff1f22-262a-4381-919f-dcb3cd5d4bf1/summary

The Robotics Adoption Programme is delivered by UK and is part of the UKRI IS8 Advanced Manufacturing Programme.

Looking to reach a bigger audience of UK manufacturing professionals with ease?Automate UK Week 2027 brings together the...
21/10/2026

Looking to reach a bigger audience of UK manufacturing professionals with ease?

Automate UK Week 2027 brings together the PPMA Show® and UK Automation Show at the NEC, Birmingham, creating a broader industry gathering across processing, packaging and automation.

For exhibitors, it's an unmissable opportunity to meet, connect and start conversations with potential customers while maximising efficiencies, as two of the UK’s leading specialist shows come together for the very first time.

Make Automate UK Week part of your 2027 event roster. Book your stand before 31 October to secure the Early Bird rate → https://buff.ly/3t62OX4

The PPMA Panel, BARA and UKIVA are taking their next step today.Bringing them together under one Automate UK identity ma...
20/10/2026

The PPMA Panel, BARA and UKIVA are taking their next step today.

Bringing them together under one Automate UK identity makes it simpler for members, manufacturers and end users to connect with the groups representing processing and packaging, robotics, automation and machine vision in the UK.

Each will continue to provide the standards, guidance, training and industry representation their sectors rely on.

Read the full story, including comments from our CEO Dan Thombs and the three committee chairs 👇

https://www.automate-uk.com/news-publications/the-ppma-panel-bara-and-ukiva-become-automate-uk-processing-packaging-committee-automate-uk-robotics-council-and-automate-uk-vision-committee-as-association-continues-to-unify-the-manufacturing-sector/

We’re pleased to announce that Automate UK and University have been awarded funding through the government’s Robotics A...
19/10/2026

We’re pleased to announce that Automate UK and University have been awarded funding through the government’s Robotics Adoption Programme, with support from UK.

Together, we’re developing two new CPD certified courses for SMEs that are considering robotics and automation for the first time or looking to scale up. Many businesses see the potential but find it difficult to know where to start or how to assess the investment. These courses are designed to address exactly that.

Robotics & Automation Adoption Essentials
For those who need to identify, evaluate and specify automation opportunities. It covers process analysis, feasibility, technical requirements, integration, safety and compliance. Participants will produce an outline implementation plan for a robotics or automation project.

Robotics & Automation Adoption Strategies
For business leaders, operational managers and decision-makers. It covers prioritising opportunities, developing a strategy and roadmap, building the business case, supplier and lifecycle management, and leading organisational change.

Course dates and registration details will be shared once confirmed. In the meantime, organisations can register their interest- https://www.automate-uk.com/what-we-do/training/training-courses/new-cpd-certified-courses-to-help-smes-adopt-robotics-and-automation/

Sustainability is on every manufacturer's agenda. But with so many mixed messages, where should the supply chain actuall...
15/10/2026

Sustainability is on every manufacturer's agenda. But with so many mixed messages, where should the supply chain actually start?

The September/October issue of Machinery Update looks at what sustainability really means for industry today, and the part machinery can play.

Also inside:

🔹 Sidel's new bottle washer, offering up to 15% savings in water
🔹 Servo-controlled case packing from Syntegon, at up to 25 cases a minute
🔹 How UK and EU regulation is tightening around digital technologies
🔹 Missed a stand at the PPMA Show? Our exhibitor guide is a handy way to catch up on the latest launches

Read the full issue here: https://www.automate-uk.com/news-publications/machinery-update-septemberoctober-2026/

14/10/2026

The UK ranks 24th in the world for robot adoption. Our new manifesto sets out what needs to change.
Our CEO Thombs and Policy Director Williamson CDir joined Flude and Causebrook on the latest episode of Manufacturing Uncensored to talk through the Automate UK Manifesto and what it will take to help UK manufacturing grow.

They cover
🔹 Why the UK is lagging behind on robot adoption
🔹 What’s changed since our 2022 manifesto
🔹 Turning government policy into real action for manufacturers
🔹 The £50 million investment in robot adoption hubs
🔹 Why so many manufacturers struggle to access funding
🔹 Bringing trade associations, government and industry together

And why Dan and Peter believe the next four years could be a really exciting time for UK manufacturing.

▶️ Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/ELpBA_aqPhU?si=u3njQuQEPSLylfJG
🎧 Prefer to listen? It’s on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eKBqgN7H
📄 Read the Automate UK Manifesto: https://www.automate-uk.com/about-us/manifesto/

Brought to you by Automate UK Week 2027

A new British Sports car company has been born,On October 8th Automate UK were at MIRA for the launch of the Longbow Spe...
13/10/2026

A new British Sports car company has been born,

On October 8th Automate UK were at MIRA for the launch of the Longbow Speedster, alongside Secretary of State for Business & Trade Reynolds, Mayor of the West Midlands Parker, Gosling MP for Nuneaton and a large contingent of UK media organisations.

Motors has secured a £3m grant for the facilities and equipment needed to manufacture its first ‘featherweight’ British sports cars and Automate UK were instrumental in supporting the development of the manufacturing and automation strategy. Thombs (CEO) and Collins (Head of Strategic Partnerships) have also used their extensive experience in this sector to support Longbow founders Davey and Tapscott to secure the grant funding for the program from the West Midlands Authority.

For us, this is exactly what our role should look like: helping UK manufacturers grow and creating new opportunities for the automation companies we represent.

Massive congratulations to Daniel and Mark who are developing an incredible business.

09/10/2026

AI has spent years living on our screens. Now it's learning to pick things up.

Physical AI, machines that can sense, reason and act in the real world, is heading for the factory floor. So what does that mean for UK manufacturing?

We'll be exploring exactly that in our Emerging Technologies in the Future of UK Manufacturing panel at the Automate UK Robotics Conference, chaired by Martin Kidman of SICK.

🔹 Rory Daniels, techUK: the policy landscape
🔹 Prof Jenny Read, ARIA: frontier research into dexterous robots
🔹 Agajan Torayev, Robominder: a start-up's view on deploying AI
🔹 Oliver Glub, Siemens: digital twins and virtual testing

Expect an honest look at the opportunities, the barriers to scale and what the UK needs to get right.

📅 5 November | 📍 FANUC UK, Ansty Park, Coventry

Register your place: https://www.automate-uk.com/what-we-do/events-exhibitions/automate-uk-robotics-conference-2026/

Manufacturing supports 2.6 million skilled jobs in the UK. It also has around 50,000 vacancies it can't fill.That tensio...
09/10/2026

Manufacturing supports 2.6 million skilled jobs in the UK. It also has around 50,000 vacancies it can't fill.

That tension sits at the heart of our new Manifesto for Automation.

We don't see robotics and automation as a threat to jobs. We see them as the thing that protects British manufacturing when the workforce pipeline can't keep up on its own.

Our manifesto sets out the policy priorities we believe will turn that ambition into reality, from easier access to finance through to stronger pathways into technical careers.

Have a read: https://www.automate-uk.com/about-us/manifesto/

Two shows. One destination. Endless possibilities. Automate UK Week is coming in 2027. Taking place across three...
08/10/2026

Two shows. One destination. Endless possibilities.

Automate UK Week is coming in 2027. Taking place across three insight-fuelled days at the NEC, Birmingham, this landmark co-location event brings together PPMA Show® 2027 and UK Automation Show 2027 for the very first time.

For exhibitors, that means greater scale, improved cost efficiencies and the UK’s largest gathering of manufacturers, engineers, specifiers, and senior decision-makers.

Book your stand before 31 October 2026 to secure the Early Bird rate and be part of Automate UK Week 2027 → https://buff.ly/3t62OX4

Address

34 Stafford Road
Wallington
SM69AA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8773 8111

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