West Midlands robotics ‘cluster’ could drive UK automation boom
29 July 2024 
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the University of Birmingham have set up a robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) “cluster” in the West Midlands to act as a catalyst to kickstart the region’s robotics and automation activities. The aim is to connect various parties including suppliers, integrators, users, universities and local authorities with the region’s two High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres, to help boost the take-up of RAS by UK industry.
The idea is based on similar clusters in other countries – most notably, around the Danish city of Odense, which has helped to turn Denmark into one of the world’s leading nations for robot adoption, despite having almost no automotive or electronics manufacturing. Denmark is currently ranked 12th globally in terms of robot density (robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers), while the UK languishes in 25th position. Denmark has more than 300 robotics companies, employing 8,500 people, with a combined turnover of €2.4bn. It also has a pipeline of start-ups and skilled personnel feeding the robotics sector.
“Creating the first UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems regional cluster will strengthen the presence of crucial technology and support growth potential,” says the MTC’s chief automation officer, Professor Mike Wilson. “We aim to raise productivity and competitiveness in the West Midlands region, while creating highly skilled and well-paid employment.
“The work we are doing with the University of Birmingham will attract other related businesses as well as universities to engage and enthuse younger generations, supporting the deployment of RAS and raising the UK’s global rankings in robot use.”
The 2017 Made Smarter Review report estimated that greater take-up of robots by UK manufacturers could be worth £184bn over 10 years. It has been calculated that if UK automation levels matched those of the most automated countries, its productivity would rise by 22.3%, overtaking most of its rivals.
Wilson does not think it would need a massive investment – about £100,000 a year – to get the cluster initiative off the ground. Appointing a person to champion the concept could help to drive the scheme, initially.
“We haven’t got lots of money, but we’re hoping that we will get support from the West Midlands Combined Authority in the coming months to allow us to expand our activities,” he says.
Wilson points out that the RAS sector is already strong in the West Midlands, with expertise in local universities, the Warwick Manufacturing Group, robot suppliers (including Fanuc, Kuka, Staubli, Gudel and Schneider), major users (such as JLR and Mondelez) and systems integrators (including Expert Technologies, ADI, RNA, iRob, Cyber-Weld and Mechtech).
“We don’t want to stop at the West Midlands,” Wilson adds, “but we want to develop it in the West Midlands to prove that we can do it, and then replicate that model to other areas of the country using the High Value Manufacturing Catapults around the country.”
