The Robotics and Automation Exhibition includes a comprehensive conference programme that includes presentations from industry leaders such as Amazon, Ocado and DHL, as well as innovators in robotics technology including ABB, SP Technology, Dematic, and Tharsus. The full programme is shown below:
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME: WEDNESDAY 10TH OCTOBER
10.00: Opening keynote
The next revolution in warehouse automation; Picking and Packing
* Picking and packing a 50,000+ range of items that are available in the grocery domain
* Work on-going at Ocado to address this challenge, using generalisable robotic systems
* Adapting to deal with all of the variability and problems that can occur
* Speaker: Alex Harvey, Head of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Ocado Technology
10.30: Reducing Labour Costs While Meeting Increasing Demand with Dynamic Work
Optimisation and Digital Automation
* Labour is the largest operating cost in most DCs and travelling between locations often accounts for as much as 50 per cent of labour time.
* Lucas’ Dynamic Work Optimisation (DWO) tool reduces travel time by up to 70 per cent resulting in increased productivity and lower labour costs
* How DWO achieves this, use features such as automated pick paths and smart location-based batching of orders, along with customer case studies on the benefits of DWO
* Speaker: James Hart, Business Development Executive, Lucas Systems EMEA
11.00: A Revolution in Logistics with ABB Robotics
* Why Robotics is important to the logistics industry
* Key technologies and innovations changing the face of supply chain operations and areas that benefit the most from robotic innovations
* Deployed solutions for the distribution and e-fulfilment market
* Speaker: Eleanor Baverstock, Key Account Manager, ABB Service Robotics
11.30: Future of Manufacturing – Intelligence Automation
* The most recent developments in robotics and autonomous systems
* How manufacturers of any size can implement these technologies and the potential benefits they can bring
* What new technologies can provide manufacturers, their limitations and what’s next in their development
* Speaker: Jeremy Hadall CEng FIET, Chief Engineer, Manufacturing Technology Centre-HMV Catapult
12.00: Discovering your Competitive Advantage with Industry 4.0 ready Bespoke Automation
* Are your machines keeping you in the loop? Data Acquisition and Machine Monitoring.
* Your new employee is part of your production process – Cobots in the Real World
* Automated solutions for smart factories – How we do it
* Speaker: Richard Mawson, Business Development for Automation, SP Technology
13.00: Up-skilling with robots
* Do robots have to mean a reduction in the number of jobs?
* Can robots and humans work together?
* Can robots enhance the energy efficiency of our homes?
* Speaker: Prof. Peter Childs, Head of the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London
13.30: Robotics and digital solutions for production and packaging
* Improving production operations using disruptive technology
* It’s not all about productivity – there
are new ways to create value
* The first step is the most important – make a start and learn fast!
* Speaker: Simon Woodward, Product Director, DHL
14.00: Robotic Technologies Enabling the Migration to Lights Out Distribution
* Innovation in key technologies is advancing robotic capabilities. What are the options?
* What are the roadblocks to widespread adoption?
* How does this support the changing logistic landscape?
* Speaker: Crystal Parrott, Vice President – Robotics Centre of Excellence, Dematic
14.30: The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund – Robotics
* Look at the £93M investment over the next 4 years to develop new robotic technologies and systems
* Consider the reduction of risks using innovative advanced robots
* Can Robotics and artificial intelligence be a potential way to grow national productivity and improve better quality of life
* Speaker: Andrew Tyrer, Interim Programme Director – Robotics Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Innovate UK – UK Research and Innovation
15.00: Pick-by-robot in fashion
logistics – how mobile picking robots conquer e-commerce warehouses
* Autonomous transporting AND handling of individual shoe boxes – what is possible today?
* Even out order peaks & reducing dependency on workforce – benefits of autonomous picking robots
* A.I. helps the robots becoming better and better – do we still need the human picker?
* Speaker: Johannes Glasmacher, Senior Sales Manager, Magazino
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME: THURSDAY 11TH OCTOBER
10.00: Automating your picking and packing processes in retail
* Using robotics to improve picking accuracy
* Remaining connected and reducing labour costs
* Improved visibility within your warehouse
* Speaker: Jonatan Gal, Regional Director, Amazon
10.30: Robot Automation – The future for UK Manufacturing
* The challenges and benefits using robotics and automation
* Potential growth of employment and productivity
* What are the drivers for change
* Speaker: Mike Wilson, Chairman, BARA & Business Development Manager, ABB Robotics
11.00: Navigating the challenges and opportunities of robotics and automation
* The opportunity presented by disruptive technologies and trends
* Common pitfalls companies fall into when trying to integrate such technologies into existing processes and systems
* Explore the process Tharsus has developed to help customers leverage these new technologies to implement or create new products and services
* Speaker: Dave Swan, Chief Technology Officer, Tharsus Group
11.30: How to make a robot application safe
* Basic aspects of robot safety
* Key requirements of standards such as EN ISO 10218-2 & ISO/TS 15066
* Risk assessments and safeguarding of robots and robot systems
* Speaker: Jamie Thomas, Consultancy Sales and KAM, Pilz Automation Technology
12.00: Reducing Labour Costs While Meeting Increasing Demand with Dynamic Work Optimisation and Digital Automation
* Labour is the largest operating cost in most DCs and travelling between locations often accounts for as much as 50 per cent of labour time.
* Lucas’ Dynamic Work Optimisation (DWO) tool reduces travel time by up to 70 per cent resulting in increased productivity and lower labour costs
* The presentation will highlight how DWO achieves this, use features such as automated pick paths and smart location-based batching of orders, along with customer case studies on the benefits of DWO
* Speaker: James Hart, Business Development Executive, Lucas Systems EMEA
12.30: A Revolution in Logistics with ABB Robotics
* Why Robotics is important to the Logistics industry
* Look at the key technologies and innovations changing the face of
supply chain operations and areas that benefit the most from robotic innovations
* Acknowledge some deployed solutions for the distribution and e-fulfilment market
* Speaker: Eleanor Baverstock, Key Account Manager, ABB Service Robotics
13.00: Designing robots for interaction with humans
* Why interact with robots?
* Safe and intelligent interaction
* Design of robots for healthcare applications
* Speaker: Dr Ildar Farkhatdinov, Lecturer in Robotics at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Honorary Lecturer at the Department of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London & Imperial College London
13.30: Automated Guided Vehicles – users perspective
* Looking at the history of AGV focusing on early providers technology an truck providers
* Analyse different safety and guidance systems. Discover the types of battery and charging technology available
* What does the future bring to AGV’s?
* Speaker: Danielle Drozd, Innovation manager – CL UK, Kuehne and Nagel
14.00: The 4th Industrial Revolution, Automation and the Future of UK Manufacturing
* Explores what the 4th Industrial Revolution means
* How automation technologies will play a key role in the revolution
* Why UK manufacturing needs to embrace the revolution
* Speaker: Victoria Montag, Head- Industrial Automation, GAMBICA
