FANUC UK has announced that its annual Open House event will return from November 12-14 this year.
Highlighting the challenges facing manufacturers and the ways in which automation can address them, the event will take place at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Coventry. It will bring together speakers from the likes of Airbus, Amazon and Cummins with automation influencers from Make UK, Automate UK and FANUC Europe.
The event will feature more than 30 exhibitors, live robot demonstrations, and the final of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competitions. Visitors can also enjoy presentations, panel debates and discussions from over 20 automation experts on topics such as the current state of UK manufacturing, how to attract young people into manufacturing, and the adoption of robotics into SMEs.
Each morning is focused on speaker presentations and panel debates, while the afternoon sessions are devoted to hands-on robotics experiences.
Reflecting the challenges facing today’s manufacturers, each day has a distinct theme:
- Day 1 (Tues 12 Nov): Enabling Step Change for Automation Adoption
Following the opening address by MD Tom Bouchier, Marco Chacin of Airbus and FANUC’s Oliver Selby will discuss the aerospace company’s automation journey in conjunction with FANUC. Further sessions will focus on ‘Successes and Challenges of Global Automation’, ‘The Current State of UK Manufacturing and the Future for the Sector’, plus a panel debate focusing on an SME stakeholder’s perspective, featuring speakers from Cummins and Hennik Research.
- Day 2 (Weds 13 Nov): Education for Automation Adoption
Highlighting the importance of inspiring and supporting the next generation of manufacturers, Day 2 will feature presentations from current Amazon apprentices, Rosa Wells of University College Birmingham, and the 2023 winners of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition. A panel debate with insight from automation influencer Mike Wilson and other UK Automation Forum members will discuss what needs to be done to attract more young people into manufacturing.
- Day 3 (Thurs 14 Nov): UK Automation 2030
The final day will begin with an address from FANUC’s European president, Marco Ghirardello. Chris Corkan of Make UK will consider the ‘State of the Nation: UK Manufacturing’, before Automate UK’s Peter Williamson discusses ‘Changing Culture and Policy to Drive Greater Robot Adoption in the UK’. The seminar programme will close with a panel debate by the West Midlands Robotics Cluster – featuring Mike Wilson, Tom Bouchier and Rachael Eade MBE – into ways to increase the adoption of robotics into SMEs.
“After the success of last year’s event, which attracted a record number of visitors, I am even more excited to open our doors this November and show the manufacturing community just what automation can do for their business,” said FANUC’s UK MD Tom Bouchier. “From alleviating labour challenges and increasing productivity to improving sustainability credentials, there are so many ways in which automation can empower British manufacturers to future-proof their enterprises and ensure that as a nation, we can continue to compete on the world stage.
“Encouraging young people into the industry is essential to this vision, and the array of burgeoning manufacturing talent on display at Open House will be an inspiration to many. I look forward to welcoming visitors to our Coventry HQ this November.”
To register an interest in attending, go to https://ukopenhouse.fanuc.eu
