Latest research from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) suggests the UK is still falling behind in the global automation race.
Installations of industrial robots in the United Kingdom fell by 3 percent to 2,306 units in 2018. And, as Make UK explains on page 12 , the UK also has one of the lowest levels of industrial robot adoption in the world, behind comparable countries such as Japan, Germany and South Korea, and ranks lower than comparative countries on indexes of readiness for automation.

So what’s holding the UK back? ABB says the take-up of robotic automation in the UK is being delayed by lingering and outdated misconceptions that are  impairing competitiveness and productivity. Nigel Platt, LBL Manager for UK & Ireland at ABB Robotics comments: "The UK needs to change its attitudes to robotic automation, and fast, if we are to be able to keep up with our global competitors." He adds: "Although as a nation we’ve always been very good at innovation, we’ve never been very good at investing in the future." (More on page 44). 

In our interview with Make UK (formerly the EEF), Seamus Nevin, Chief Economist at Make UK says that fears of automation leading to job losses is at least  part of the problem. He also points to a lack of culture towards innovation, digitalisation and automation, which he says puts the UK at risk of being left behind while other countries continue to advance in their digitalisation journeys. (More on page 10).

One area where the UK has been quicker to innovate is that of packaging where the Blue Planet effect has seen a groundswell of public support for initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of plastic packaging used across all sectors. One such project is The UK Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative that has been set up with the aim of creating a circular economy for plastics. Formed just over a year ago, and spearheaded by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) it brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. The Plastics Pact along with the wider challenges facing the packaging sector  are the subject of this issue’s industry focus from Charlotte Stonestreet starting on page 14.

Also in this issue don’t miss our annual guide to Maintenance Management, our special supplement on handling & storing and our in-depth report on energy management.

Next time we’ll be bringing you Air User, IPE’s annual guide to compressed air management along with a special food and drink industry focus.  
We hope you enjoy the issue and as always your comments and feedback are very welcome.
Georgina Bisby
[email protected]
@IPEmagazine