CFOtech UK - Technology news for CFOs & financial decision-makers
United Kingdom

Smart factory Stories

UK Stories

Smart factory stories

RobCo unveils Alfie robot for variable factory work
Physical AI

RobCo unveils Alfie robot for variable factory work

The new robot is aimed at factory and warehouse tasks that have long resisted automation because conditions, inputs and handling change constantly.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Mon, 20th Apr 2026

Global Stories

Smart factory stories

Iveda upgrades tracking system with 10cm Bluetooth sensors
Manufacturing

Iveda upgrades tracking system with 10cm Bluetooth sensors

Hospitals, factories and warehouses could cut losses and delays as the upgraded system pinpoints people and equipment to within 10 centimetres.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Last week
Smart manufacturing gains speed in automotive plants
Robotics

Smart manufacturing gains speed in automotive plants

Measured gains from AI and automation are pushing automotive plants to cut downtime, lift output and close a widening performance gap.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Last week
Manufacturers turn to AI as maintenance know-how fades
Manufacturing

Manufacturers turn to AI as maintenance know-how fades

Rising downtime costs are pushing factories to use AI to capture veteran technicians' know-how before retiring staff take it with them.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Last week
Global wire harness market set to hit USD $173.9bn
Robotics

Global wire harness market set to hit USD $173.9bn

Electrified vehicles, factory automation and renewable projects are expected to lift demand for organised wiring assemblies to USD $173.9 billion by 2036.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • This month
Advantech expands NVIDIA tie-up with AI factory brain
Digital Transformation

Advantech expands NVIDIA tie-up with AI factory brain

Pilot trials suggest the setup could cut factory energy use by 10% and lift assembly-line productivity by 12%.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month
Argon & Co joins QAD Redzone in global factory tie-up
Digital Transformation

Argon & Co joins QAD Redzone in global factory tie-up

Factories facing labour shortages and rising costs are set to get a new execution tool, as the firms pair consulting with frontline software.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
Red Hat & Panasonic preload edge software on TOUGHBOOK
Edge Computing

Red Hat & Panasonic preload edge software on TOUGHBOOK

Users in manufacturing and defence will get faster deployment of rugged edge devices as Panasonic bundles Red Hat software on TOUGHBOOKs.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last month
Schneider Electric joins Forum's Lighthouse OS board
Manufacturing

Schneider Electric joins Forum's Lighthouse OS board

The move gives the manufacturing group a role in shaping an open-source framework aimed at helping factories scale digital change beyond pilot projects.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
Tacton launches AI assistant to cut CPQ modelling work
Manufacturing

Tacton launches AI assistant to cut CPQ modelling work

Manufacturers could halve CPQ product-modelling work as staff race to digitise complex catalogues amid a shortage of specialist engineers.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month
FPT, Intel partner on AI-driven factory optimisation
Data Analytics

FPT, Intel partner on AI-driven factory optimisation

Manufacturers could cut bottlenecks and speed output as the pair link live data, simulation and AI across factory systems.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026
TCS expands Google Cloud tie-up with four AI offerings
Manufacturing

TCS expands Google Cloud tie-up with four AI offerings

The expanded Google Cloud partnership is meant to help large firms cut AI pilot times and speed deployment across manufacturing and security.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Apr 2026
SAP unveils agentic AI tools for manufacturing supply
Robotics

SAP unveils agentic AI tools for manufacturing supply

Manufacturers could gain faster disruption warnings and automated responses as SAP embeds AI agents into core supply chain workflows.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Tue, 21st Apr 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Smart factory stories

Dreame wet and dry vacuum shipments top 10 million
Manufacturing

Dreame wet and dry vacuum shipments top 10 million

Growing demand has pushed Dreame's wet and dry vacuum range past 10 million units shipped worldwide since its 2021 launch.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Last week
Private 5G looking to rewire Canada's factory floors
Robotics

Private 5G looking to rewire Canada's factory floors

Private 5G aims to help manufacturers connect factory systems, automate operations and use real-time data more easily across production sites.

By Jake MacAndrew • 5 min read • This month
Ottawa backs Siemens battery AI R&D with CAD $23M in funding
Cartech

Ottawa backs Siemens battery AI R&D with CAD $23M in funding

The funding is set to safeguard thousands of jobs as Canada pushes to bolster its battery supply chain and EV manufacturing base.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Thu, 23rd Apr 2026
Rockwell Automation showcases AI & digitalisation in Jakarta
Manufacturing

Rockwell Automation showcases AI & digitalisation in Jakarta

Nearly 400 industrial leaders gathered as manufacturers in Indonesia weighed AI, analytics and digital tools to tackle costs and complexity.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 22nd Apr 2026