Future Trends in Industrial Robots

As the UK economy continues to face rising pressure to boost productivity, tackle the ongoing shortage of labour, and adjust quickly to changing consumer demands, the role of industrial robots is set to become increasingly pivotal in providing a solution. Across sectors such as manufacturing, food and beverage, retail, e-commerce, and grocery, robotic technologies are gaining widespread adoption by businesses who see investment in automation as a cost-effective, scalable and relevant technology that is robust and adept at managing a challenging environment and ultimately delivers tangible results through custom automation solutions.

Robotics in the UK: Current Landscape

The UK has traditionally lagged behind global leaders such as Germany and Japan in industrial robotics adoption. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the UK had just 111 industrial robots per 10,000 employees deployed in manufacturing in 2023, sitting below the global average of 151.

However, this gap is narrowing as British industries recognise the productivity benefits of automation systems, with the UK projected to see a significant increase in the use of robotic systems, with market revenue expected to reach £210 million by 2029, growing at an annual rate of 4.43%. This growth is driven by increasing demand for robotic automation in the manufacturing industry, particularly in the automotive industries, which are expected to dominate the market with a projected £69.9 million in 2025.

Key Sectors & Applications For Robotics

Highly versatile, robotics in their many guises are deployed in a wide variety of sectors to carry out manufacturing processes, production, and logistics tasks that deliver operational efficiency and accuracy, with minimal human intervention. Some of the main sectors and applications using robotics include:

Brochure-_Robotic-Depalletizer

Manufacturing

Manufacturing commonly use articulated robots, SCARA robots, and collaborative robots (cobots) for applications such as welding, painting, machine tending, quality inspection, and parts assembly. These robotic integrations help streamline the production process and reduce labour costs.

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage deploys Delta robots, vision-guided robots, and hygienic design cobots for pick & place, packaging, sorting, and palletising tasks with consistent quality and adherence to quality assurance protocols.

Retail & E-Commerce

Retail & E-Commerce widely use Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), robotic arms, and AI-driven logistics platforms for effective order picking, inventory management, and goods-to-person delivery, supporting operational goals and lowering operating costs.

Grocery

The grocery sector often use collaborative robots and AI-integrated systems for operational activities such as shelf-stocking, scanning inventory, and handling fragile produce. These automation technologies deliver scalable robotic solutions suited for high-mix, low-volume tasks.

Emerging Technologies & Next-Generation Trends

As robotic technologies continue to evolve at speed, several transformative trends are emerging that will define the next phase of industrial automation in the UK:

Collaborative robotic arms in an industrial automation setup for bespoke manufacturing

Robotics for Primary Food Handling Tasks

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Integration

Robots are becoming smarter with embedded AI, allowing for real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, and adaptive learning. In food sorting, for instance, AI enables robots to identify and separate products based on size, shape, and colour variations with high precision.

Soft Robotics

Soft robotics is gaining traction in industries handling delicate or irregular items, such as bakery goods or fresh fruit. These robots use flexible, air-powered actuators that mimic the human hand, making them ideal for handling more delicate items where traditional grippers would damage the product.

Human-Robot Collaboration (Cobots)

Cobots are designed to work safely alongside human workers. SMEs' adoption of cobots across the UK is growing due to their flexibility, lower cost, and easy integration into existing workflows. Highly versatile, cobots are increasingly being deployed for small-batch production and high-mix, low-volume environments to perform repetitive tasks efficiently.

Mobile Manipulators

The next generation of robots is set to combine mobility and dexterity. These mobile manipulators can navigate dynamic environments while performing complex tasks such as picking, packing, or goods inspections. They are ideally suited for numerous warehouse automation tasks and plant maintenance.

Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)

To lower the potential financial barrier to entry, robot manufacturers are offering a variety of robots on a subscription basis. This model allows companies to scale up automation without significant upfront capital investment, providing efficient and scalable robotics solutions ideally suited for mid-sized UK operations. It supports the implementation of automation strategies while controlling labour and operating costs.

The Road Ahead for UK Industry

With the UK government remaining focused on ‘levelling up’ and advancing Industry 4.0 initiatives for wider usage, robotic integrations are expected to play a crucial role, with grants from Innovate UK and schemes such as Made Smarter already supporting businesses and fuelling the adoption of robotic technologies, vital for driving automation and efficiency forward.

Additionally, to position the UK as a global leader in robotics and smart machines, the government has developed a comprehensive roadmap: Smart Machines Strategy 2035. Published in February 2025, this 10-year plan highlights the potential of intelligent, semi-autonomous systems and how they can transform business operations.

The plan covers the economic impact, including statistics around full adoption of smart machines having the potential to boost the UK’s Gross Value Added from £6.4 billion to £150 billion by 2035, through productivity, cost reductions, and the emergence of new industries and job opportunities.

Outlining the roadmap’s strategic goals, the report headlines key goals focused on the integration process of AI and robotics to promote the development and deployment of intelligent systems that can operate seamlessly alongside humans. This fully supports the growing uptake in cobot integration, which has the capability of streamlining logistics and manufacturing operations further, while enhancing workplace safety.

Acknowledging the UK’s strength in research and innovation to drive advancements in robotic automation and smart automation systems, the strategy showcases the importance of organised and collaborative action needed to integrate robotics and smart machines to ensure that these rapidly evolving advanced technologies deliver long-term success and tangible benefits for UK industry.

There is little doubt that industrial robots and smart automation technology are redefining the way UK industries operate, driving improved efficiency and enhanced product quality, while addressing the ongoing shortage of available, skilled labour. While the technology is already embedded in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics, the future promises even greater agility, intelligence, and adaptability through AI, cobots, and soft robotics for wider use within industry.

As UK businesses prepare for a more automated future, embracing these innovations will be vital, not just to stay competitive but also to grow and thrive in an increasingly challenging and dynamic industrial landscape.