Future measured in certainty? By Laura Crawford, Publisher of Machinery & Manufacturing

In June, I attended Hexagon Live 2025 in Las Vegas, a global event showcasing the latest in precision technology and digital innovation. But it was not just the tech on display that made an impression. It was the message: that certainty, not just accuracy, is what the future demands.

Outgoing Chairman Ola Rollén put it best: “When we get involved, it’s about more than accuracy. It’s about certainty.” And that struck a chord. Because in UK manufacturing, certainty is in short supply and never more needed.

Since returning from Las Vegas, the UK has seen its first Industrial Strategy from government in over a decade. It has been met with mixed opinions. For some, it’s a long-overdue framework for growth. For others, it raises more questions than it answers.

What’s clear is that if we want a smarter, more resilient economy, manufacturing must be at its core. Not as an afterthought, but as a strategic engine for growth, productivity and national security.

At Hexagon Live, we saw practical examples of what that future could look like. Smart factories, autonomous technologies, energy-efficient systems and even lunar landings made possible by UK-based engineering. These are not just moonshots, they are evidence of what can be achieved when we prioritise innovation, build partnerships and develop skills.

For UK manufacturing to thrive, we need more than investment. We need vision. A long-term commitment to digital capability and clean growth. And a skills and apprenticeship system that reflects the realities of today’s workforce, not the assumptions of the past.

Certainty might feel out of reach at the moment. But with the right choices, it’s something we can build, shape and measure.