UK trio creates Britain’s first customisable AMRs
24 February 2026 
Three UK-based companies – Siemens, the robotics technology provider, Expert Technologies Group (ETG), and the robotics integrator, RMGroup – have joined forces to produce the UK’s first customisable AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). They say that the collaboration represents a strategically important milestone for UK industrial automation, creating the first comprehensive end-to-end manufacturing capability for AMRs that will enable users to boost productivity and efficiency at their sites.
The robots have been designed to help factories and warehouses to move materials around more easily, without needing fixed tracks or heavy infrastructure. The AMRs can be adapted to suit different tasks, industries and environments, giving users a flexible, scalable way to improve productivity.
“This partnership demonstrates how UK-led innovation can deliver the advanced manufacturing technology our industry desperately needs,” says Brian Holliday, Siemens’ managing director for the UK & Ireland. “By supporting UK manufacturers with locally developed, fully customisable solutions, we’re showing that collaboration is essential to driving the digitalisation of British industry.
“Together with RM Group and Expert Technology Group, we’re building the foundation for intelligent, autonomous operations that will help businesses be more productive through better, more reliable factory logistics, and help keep UK manufacturing competitive on the global stage.”
The AMR is based on Expert Technology Group’s FlexDrive platform and uses Siemens Simove control systems and laser-based navigation software to deliver both track-based and free navigation capabilities. The vehicles have on-board wireless safety systems with real-time location-based safety zones. Their navigation options include path planning, obstacle avoidance and real-time dynamic positioning.
The scalable, flexible AMRs can be modified to adapt to the needs of a facility. They can be used for autonomous logistics and warehouse management, as well as real-time data collection for digital twin simulations.
Paul Fletcher, senior manager at Coventry-based ETG, says the new AMR “ represents a fundamental shift in how UK manufacturers can approach autonomous mobile robotics. Rather than forcing businesses to adapt to rigid, off-the-shelf solutions, we’re creating hyperflexible platforms that adapt to their needs. This partnership gives us the scalability and technical foundation to support everything from small-scale deployments to enterprise fleets of one hundred plus robots.”
“We’ve seen too many AGV and AMR implementations fail due to inadequate support or integration issues with overseas engineering teams,” adds RMGroup’s operations and commercial director, James Nicholls. “This collaboration tackles that problem head-on by creating a truly UK-made, UK-supported end-to-end solution that our customers can rely on.”
Typical uses for AMRs include moving components between workstations, transporting finished goods to storage areas, and supplying materials to production lines. The robots can navigate busy factory floors safely, avoiding obstacles in real time, and adapting to changes in layout or workload – helping manufacturers to streamline their operations, reduce manual handling, and respond quicker to changes in demand.
Expert Technologies Group: LinkedIn
