Smart factory Stories

UK Stories

Smart factory stories

K3Metrology raises GBP £2.75m in seed funding round

The cash will fund industrial trials and early deployments of a measurement system designed to cut downtime in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month

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

Robotics

Siemens & Humanoid test robot in factory logistics

The test could ease factory labour shortages by proving humanoid robots can handle repetitive logistics work alongside staff in live production settings.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Fri, 17th Apr 2026

Manufacturing

Instro AI trials cut engineering response times by 67%

Manufacturers saw faster technical support and enquiry handling, with one trial cutting response times by 67.3% and reducing manual effort.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 16th Apr 2026

Global Stories

Smart factory stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manufacturing

TeamViewer adds AI maintenance & secure industrial gateway

Industrial users could cut downtime and cyber risk as TeamViewer’s latest update brings plug-and-play remote access and AI-guided maintenance support.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 17th Apr 2026