FANUC unveils speakers for Open House event

With less than a week to go until FANUC UK opens the doors to its Coventry HQ (2nd-4th November 2022), the automation specialist has unveiled the full speaker line-up for its Open House event.

Bringing together experts from all facets of the industrial automation and robotics sector, industry thought leaders are set to discuss high-level topics such as Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing, the power of partnerships and the route to net zero in a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches and in-depth case studies across the three-day event aimed at showcasing the benefits of automation to UK manufacturers.

Day 1 – The power of partnerships

Opening the event on Wednesday 2nd November will be FANUC UK’s Managing Director, Tom Bouchier, who will set the tone for the event by discussing the current outlook of UK manufacturing and what FANUC and their partners can do to help. Following on from this will be FANUC’s newly appointed Head of Sales, Oliver Selby, joined by representatives from the company’s system integrator network and key partners. Their panel discussion will cover the power of partnerships and the fundamentals of good collaboration.

Visitors will also hear from FANUC’s Engineering Project Manager Ben Edwards, as well as representatives from Mazak Europe and key influencers for UK manufacturing.

Day 2 – Future planning

The second day (Thursday 3rd November) will focus on Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing. Highlights include a session by Phil Hadfield, UK Managing Director and Northern Europe Sales Director for Rockwell Automation, who will talk about how to meet the challenges of modern manufacturing.

This session will be followed by a practical guide by FANUC’s Paul Richards on what to consider before purchasing a cobot, before David Reardon of Plastics Industry Awards 2022 finalist Bloom in Box unveils an in-depth case study on how the company is powering its FANUC ROBOSHOT entirely through solar energy, assisting in its goal to become carbon neutral in the next 12-18 months. A panel discussion on the importance of putting sustainability at the forefront of any manufacturing plans rounds off the second day’s presentations.

Day 3 – Education, education, education

The final day’s sessions (Friday 4th November) centre on the future workforce and the importance of upskilling existing staff. Patrick Daniels, Head of National Competitions and Careers for WorldSkills UK, will address the audience on the impact that WorldSkills has made on the industry to date, while a representative from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) will outline the importance of investing in R&D and uniting industry and academia.

Visitors will also have the chance to pit their skills against this and previous years’ finalists of the WorldSkills UK for industrial robotics.

Hands-on robot demos and training

In addition to the high-level presentations, debates and keynote speeches taking place each day, the afternoon sessions will have a more practical, hands-on feel, incorporating live demonstrations, FANUC Academy taster sessions, and a planned preventative maintenance overview. The event will also feature an exhibition area comprising more than 35 leading automation companies, including Rockwell Automation, Mazak, Mitutoyo, Bauromat, Mills CNC, Mollart, Nikken and Robopod, who will be ready to showcase their knowledge, expertise and latest innovations to the hundreds of visitors in attendance.

CLICK HERE for the full agenda and to register your attendance at the FANUC Annual Open House (2nd – 4th November 2022, Ansty Park, Coventry).