Automated Robotics Solutions: Smarter Automation for UK Manufacturing

Automated Robotics Solutions are now one of the most practical ways for UK manufacturers to protect margins, stabilise quality and keep production moving when labour is tight or demand is unpredictable. The biggest gains come when automation is engineered around the reality of your line: your products, your cycle times, your changeovers, and your commercial payback targets. At Premier Automation, we design and build new robot systems, integrate used robots, and modify or update existing automated systems to meet each customer’s individual process requirements and payback criteria. We also re-engineer existing cells to reduce cycle times, cope with new products, and relocate automation locally, nationally or internationally.

Automated Robotics Solutions for measurable productivity and quality gains

For many businesses, the “why” is obvious: higher throughput with consistent output, fewer defects, less scrap, and reduced rework. Robots deliver repeatable motion, controlled force, and stable process timing, which is why they are so effective in tasks where a small variation can create a quality issue. But the real advantage is system-level performance. A robot alone does not solve a bottleneck if the infeed is inconsistent, the tooling is unreliable, or the control logic does not manage upstream and downstream conditions properly.

That is why Premier Automation focuses on complete automation systems and not just robot supply. A well-designed cell includes part presentation, guarding, tooling, sensors, conveyors or pallet handling, plus the right integration with your wider factory systems. The result is a robust solution that improves overall equipment effectiveness, not just a single station’s speed.

Automated Robotics Solutions from concept to commissioning

A reliable system starts with good design. Every project should begin with a clear definition of the process: what the robot must do, what peripheral equipment is required, how parts will arrive and leave, and what safety strategy is appropriate for the operating environment. Premier Automation applies design and process expertise to ensure every solution is robust and dependable, whether the requirement is a single robot cell or a more sophisticated line with multiple technologies.

Control systems are central to that reliability. The control system is the heart of any automation and needs to be functional, safe, and intuitive for operators and maintenance teams. Premier Automation designs control systems in the latest Eplan platform and can provide full schematics, parts lists, panel layouts, cable schedules, EN13849 safety documentation, and controls risk assessments. Panel build is carried out internally by fully qualified electricians, with panels tested prior to despatch and built to relevant British and European standards. Installation and commissioning are then managed on site, with systems powered up, inputs and outputs proven, and software installed and commissioned by experienced engineers, including training where required.

As a Siemens Solution Partner, Premier Automation works to globally recognised criteria and structured standards, which helps deliver consistent quality across projects of different sizes.

Automated Robotics Solutions for upgrades, re-engineering and relocation

Not every automation requirement needs a brand-new build. Many manufacturers already have robots, conveyors, safety guarding or legacy control systems that can be improved. In these cases, Automated Robotics Solutions can be delivered through upgrades and re-engineering that restore performance, extend service life and improve reliability, often with a faster payback than replacing everything.

A structured approach typically starts with a site survey and system assessment to understand the mechanical condition, safety compliance, controls architecture, and production constraints. From there, upgrades might include new guarding, improved tooling, refreshed control hardware, better sensing, or revised programming to reduce cycle times and eliminate downtime causes. If the product has changed, the system can be modified to accommodate new formats, different handling points, or new inspection and traceability requirements.

Relocation is another common need. Whether you are reorganising a production area, moving to a new site, or shifting automation to support a different part of the business, relocation is rarely straightforward. It needs planning around utilities, layout, machine interfaces, recommissioning, and production restart. Premier Automation has the experience to make relocation as swift and risk-free as possible, both across the UK and internationally.

Where Automated Robotics Solutions deliver best: key applications

Automated Robotics Solutions are not limited to one industry or process. Premier Automation integrates a wide range of robot models across multiple applications, selecting the right approach to suit throughput, product variation and safety requirements.

Machine tending and machine loading are strong examples. Robots can load and unload CNCs, injection moulders and presses, and can also perform secondary operations where required. This can enable “lights out” running when part presentation and downstream handling are designed correctly. Standardised machine tool loading cells can be configured in several ways:

• AMR-loaded cells, where an autonomous mobile robot delivers and removes pre-filled trays, helping centralise part preparation and maximise unmanned running.
• Pallet loaded cells for pre-fixtured parts, keeping the cell simple and fast.
• Vision-enabled loading for randomly placed parts, where the robot locates and grips components reliably.
• Conveyor-fed cells that use overhead vision to identify parts on a belt and manage infeed and outfeed flow.
• Pallet conveyor-fed cells designed for longer unattended periods, including overnight or weekend operation.

Palletising is another high-impact area. Robot palletising improves consistency and stability of pallet loads, reduces product damage from manual handling, and cuts the risk of repetitive strain injuries. Cells can be built for single or multiple lines, with options for multiple infeeds, pre-orientation, pallet management, and integration with downstream equipment such as stretch wrappers. Cobots can also be suitable for palletising where flexibility and quick reconfiguration are priorities.

Welding, gluing and gasket dispensing remain core robot applications. Robots offer repeatable path accuracy and controlled process execution, improving bead consistency, weld quality and inspection outcomes. Cobots can be particularly useful for processes where frequent product changes require fast, user-friendly reprogramming.

Programming, digital twins and support that sustain Automated Robotics Solutions

Commissioning is only one part of long-term success. Programming quality and support capability determine how well a system performs over its lifetime. Premier Automation provides robot and PLC programming support across a comprehensive range of robot and PLC systems, from modifications to existing programmes through to digital twin development.

Off-line programming can minimise downtime by allowing programmes to be developed and tested away from the shop floor, then deployed and tuned during planned installation windows. Tools such as RobotStudio and Siemens PLC simulation can support this approach, helping to optimise cell design before manufacture and enabling reprogramming without shutting down production.

On-site programming remains essential for performance optimisation. Real production conditions often reveal opportunities to improve sequencing, reduce interlocks, increase speed safely, and enhance reliability. PLC programming is also critical for peripheral control, communications to factory systems, and integration with EMS or MES platforms. Where required, Premier Automation can develop SCADA and custom MES solutions to support data capture, downtime logging, and process visibility.

How to specify the right solution and achieve ROI

The strongest automation projects are driven by clear objectives and realistic constraints. A good specification addresses throughput targets, product variation, changeover frequency, part presentation, safety approach, and how the system will be supported operationally. Premier Automation provides honest, unbiased advice, including cases where automation is not the best fit, and works closely with customers to identify the right solution to production problems.

Founded in 2000 and operating from a large facility in Bedford with strong transport links, Premier Automation brings experienced designers, mechanical and electrical engineers, and software specialists to each project. From new system builds to upgrades and relocation, Automated Robotics Solutions can be engineered to meet both technical requirements and commercial criteria, while creating a long-term partnership that supports continuous improvement.