The future of precision engineering: FANUC sets open house date

The past few years have seen FANUC host arguably the UK’s biggest and best automation event. However, the company is now looking to add a different flavour to the mix by staging an open house that focuses on its machine tool (ROBOMACHINE) technology. Taking place on 27-29 January 2026 at the company’s Ansty Park headquarters in Coventry, ‘The Future of Precision Engineering’ open house will provide a showcase of demonstrations and panel discussions by FANUC and 30+ technical partners.

A trio of key themes have been identified for the event: ESG (environment, social and governance) on day 1; artificial intelligence and connectivity on day 2; and education and training on day 3. All are hugely important topics set to underpin the success of UK PLC moving forward.

Get the green light

The first day will focus extensively on energy efficiency and a greener future; a day where precision meets sustainability. FANUC comes from a position of considerable experience in this area. The company is actively contributing to the worldwide drive for a circular economy with initiatives that have earned notable sustainability accolades. This year alone, FANUC Corporation was awarded the highest Platinum rating from globally recognised sustainability expert, EcoVadis, placing it in the top 1% of companies investing in sustainability and green initiatives. FANUC has also received the highest MSCI ESG rating of ‘AAA’ and achieved recognition as a CDP ‘A List’ company.

“Moving forward, we’ve defined science-based targets and a significant commitment to reducing our carbon footprint within Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2050,” states FANUC UK’s Vice Managing Director Andy Armstrong. “We do it because the planet needs it and increasing numbers of customers expect it. We have to provide evidence of our sustainability credentials just to do business with manufacturers in sectors such as medical.”

FANUC’s sustainability initiatives of course extend to its products. Advanced FANUC servo technology and an intelligent energy recovery system mean users of solutions like the all-electric ROBOSHOT injection moulding machine enjoy reductions in electricity consumption of up to 70% compared with hydraulic injection moulding machines. They also consume 5-10% less in comparison with other electric injection moulding machines.

Innovative energy management features on the latest-generation ROBOSHOT machines include a new plasticising energy monitor that contributes to savings through better energy balance in ‘heat transfer’, ‘shear’ and ‘energy loss’. An eco-temperature adjustment function further supports lower electricity consumption.

FANUC’s best-in-category energy efficiency claim for its ROBOSHOT series has been validated in an installation at UK-based sustainable plastic product manufacturer, Bloom in Box (BiB). Here, a ROBOSHOT model consistently uses 33% less power than the other all-electric machines at BiB’s Burscough facility since it was installed in 2022. This market-leading energy performance has prompted the moulding specialist to purchase two further ROBOSHOT machines, allowing it to expedite expansion plans while reducing carbon footprint.

“In combination with its use of recycled/recyclable materials and solar energy, BiB – a small, family-run manufacturing business – is now carbon negative,” reveals Andy. “A further contributor is FANUC’s total cost of ownership [TCO], which is the market’s lowest based on our internal data for average annual maintenance and spare part costs. Low TCO also reduces environmental impact through less raw material consumption. We have plenty of customers who bought FANUC machines in the 1990s that are still making high-quality parts today.”

Smart thinking

Day 2 of the open house will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity, factors set to shape the future of competitive manufacturing and drive efficient growth.

“Everyone is talking about AI, but we want to use our open house to see where AI and connectivity currently sit in the evolution of UK machine shops,” explains Andy. “As AI progresses to drive smarter, more autonomous and more productive manufacturing operations, robust connectivity will be the facilitator of faster data acquisition, data processing and machine learning.”

At the open house, the five ROBOSHOT machines on display will be connected via FANUC’s proprietary ROBOSHOT-LINK𝑖2 IoT quality information management tool. Among the machines will be Europe’s first showing of the large (350 tonne capacity) ROBOSHOT S350C.

FANUC will demonstrate new AI functionalities facilitated the LINKi-2 platform. The ROBOSHOT’s injection unit, for example, includes AI metering that uses torque (rather than speed) control to achieve variable screw rotation speed. In addition, FANUC AI mould and ejector protection avoids mould damage and costly repairs/downtime if an event occurs during opening or closing. It even indicates when greasing is necessary or if the mould is exhibiting wear. The same technology also protects the ejector’s forward and reverse movement.

Learn the way forward

Those attending day 3 are set for a feast of education and training, a topic hot on every manufacturer’s lips at present.

“We’ll promote the training and development of engineering skills in automation, be it injection moulding, machining or wire EDM,” says Andy. “We’ll also have our Robot Education Cells present, while visitors can additionally learn about our partnership with precision engineering recruitment agency, Sierra 57 Consult.”

He adds: “We hear it all the time: where is the next generation of engineers coming from? It will certainly be a major discussion theme on day 3. It’s clear we must engage with schools to present engineering as an exciting career option. Upskilling is also key to maintaining competitive advantage as consumer demands evolve. This is the kind of dialogue we want to discuss and promote as the industry looks to level up the workforce and bridge the skills gap.”

What to expect

At The Future of Precision Engineering open house, a wide selection of ROBOSHOT (injection moulding), ROBODRILL (machining centre) and ROBOCUT (wire EDM) automation cells will show how visitors can achieve smarter, faster, more efficient production. Those in attendance can also expect expert talks, roundtable discussions and a dynamic line-up of industry partners ready to showcase cutting-edge solutions. Partners are set to include Renishaw, Blum Novotest, YMT Technologies, Kistler, SMC, Zimmer Group and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), to list but a few.

Any manufacturers looking to reduce downtime through innovation, build a sustainable future or adopt tomorrow’s skills will come away with plenty of added value from The Future of Precision Engineering.