Feature

Setting a new path for sustainability with robots

Growing awareness of the impact of manufacturing on the environment is encouraging companies to apply technology to make their production processes more sustainable. Julian Ware, Sales Manager for ABB Robotics in the UK and Ireland, explains how the introduction of robotic automation is enabling companies to re-imagine their processes to minimise waste.

02/09/2024 16:58:47

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With growing awareness of the impact that human activities are having on the environment, companies across all sectors are setting themselves ambitious targets to make their operations more sustainable.

Aimed at minimising their environmental footprint, these targets
encompass a broad spectrum of measures, from sourcing sustainably produced ingredients and the use of biodegradable materials for packaging, through to recovering and recycling waste materials when products reach the end of their useful life.

In many cases,
introducing these measures requires a rethink of existing processes – whether it be in terms of how a product is made, or, when it comes to the end of its life, how its constituent parts can be reused.

As developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are expanding robots’ decision-making capabilities, software is also helping significantly to simplify their programming and operation, which is creating new ways for companies to improve the sustainability of their operations.

The following
are examples of projects that are using the inherent flexibility of robotic automation to reduce their environmental impact and create new potential revenue streams that could help to build a new breed of circular economy businesses.

Read the full article in DPA's September issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.