Robotics and Automation – the UK’s largest dedicated robotics and automation exhibition – will take place as scheduled, on 3-4 November 2020, following prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that business events will be permitted from 1 October.
Answering a question from the Financial Times about people returning to work during a Downing Street briefing last week, Johnson made a telling statement underlining the value of face-to-face interaction. He said: “There’s a balance. We have learnt a lot of lessons during this crisis, about the potential of technology, but I think there are also limits to this technology and is no substitute for face-to-face meetings and interactions.
“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence – again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”
The decision to restart business events, conferences and events centres will see the return of a sector worth approximately £32.6bn to the UK each year.
Pre-registration for Robotics and Automation 2020, which will take place at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, is already 30% higher than last year, while 50% of the stand space has already been booked, suggesting there is a huge pent-up demand in the UK to ‘get going again’.
The two-day event is a must-attend for businesses seeking the latest and next-generation robotics and automation technologies, products and services to drive efficiency, reduce costs and provide a competitive edge.
Industry-leading suppliers such as ABB, Mitsubishi Electric and Universal Robots will showcase a raft of cutting-edge solutions including state-of-the-art industrial robots, collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles, automated assembly machines and parts handling equipment, motion control and machine vision technology, sensors, as well as and the latest advancements in AI and the IoT enabling smart factories and smart manufacturing.
Attendees will comprise key decision-makers, influencers and proposers from a wide range of sectors, including retail, healthcare, pharmaceutical, automotive, logistics and warehousing, food and drink, and manufacturing.
What’s more, Robotics and Automation 2020 will also host a dedicated conference theatre on both days of the exhibition, offering a free and comprehensive learning opportunity for visitors to discover the latest research, trends and insights in robotics and automation from industry leaders.
To find out more, visit www.roboticsandautomation.co.uk
