Category: Industry news

The number of robots installed in the UK increased by more than half (51%) in 2023 and annual installations globally exceeded half a million units for the third consecutive year, according to figures from the latest International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics Report.

On July 4 2024, the Labour Party won a decisive victory in the UK general election, ushering in a new era of government and a host of ambitious proposals covering issues from environmental sustainability to innovation and investment. But what does this mean for the packaging industry? In this blog, we’ll look at some of the party’s policies and explore their potential impact on the sector.

Rapid developments in robotics are leading a transformation. Manufacturers are adopting robotics faster than ever: globally, the average robot density has more than doubled in the last six years and in the packaging industry specifically, global sales of robotic packaging machines are estimated to reach US$ 1,888 million by 2033.

The first automation in manufacturing was recorded in 1771 with the invention of a fully automated spinning mill and its integration into industrial processes has been gathering pace ever since. Today, automation plays a crucial part in many manufacturing operations – and signs are that in 2024, it’s set to become more important than ever.

A staggering 553,052 industrial robots were installed globally in 2022, demonstrating that the demand for robotics and automation shows no sign of abating. According to figures from the latest International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics Report, the numbers are not only an increase of 5% on the previous year but beat the world record of 500,000 units for the second year in a row.

When we talk about automation in manufacturing, we usually mean the introduction of robotics or other machinery in order to speed up manual processes. However, this isn’t the only way that automation can be introduced into a manufacturing operation. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is growing in popularity amongst manufacturers as they seek to ensure their back office functions run as smoothly as the rest of their business.

Half a million new robots were installed around the world last year – but only 2,054 of those were in the UK, according to the latest International Federation of Robots (IFR) World Robotics Report.

Robots are strongly connected to our vision of the future, but if we want to create a more sustainable planet for the next generation, we need to harness this technology today. In this blog, we look at what the word 'sustainability' means and what robots are doing to support its development.