Name: Robotics as the engine for packaging agility
Start: 2026-02-11T00:00:00.0000000Z
Location: Robotics as the engine for packaging agility

Robotics as the Engine for Packaging Agility

Date: 11 February 2026
Time: 14:30
Location: Supply Chain, Packaging Innovations & Empack, Halls 2,3 & 3a, NEC Birmingham

Robotics and automation, supercharged by AI and predictive maintenance, are transforming packaging workflows and enabling a new era of agility. Manufacturers are building operations that are faster to adapt, more efficient to run, and more resilient in the face of disruption.

But with downtime now measured in lost revenue, missed orders, and wasted resources, how can packaging leaders make sure they are investing in the right technologies, in the right way?

Join industry experts, technology innovators, and fellow manufacturers at the next UK Automation Forum, where we’ll explore how robotics is powering packaging agility, and what it takes to build a smarter, future-ready factory.

Key topics will include:

How robotics is enabling greater flexibility across packaging lines

Where AI and predictive maintenance are driving measurable performance gains

Practical strategies to reduce downtime and boost operational resilience

How to unlock faster changeovers and improved throughput Real-world insights from packaging and automation leaders

Packaging is evolving fast. Consumer demand, labour pressures, and supply chain volatility are pushing manufacturers to rethink how their lines operate. This forum is your chance to hear what’s working now, explore best practices, and connect with peers who are building the next generation of packaging operations.

Our Host

Mike Wilson

Chair UK Automation Forum & Chief Automation Officer, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)

Mike has over 40 years of experience in the application of automation to manufacturing across a broad range of industry sectors and is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities on the application of industrial robot systems in the UK. At the MTC, he is leading the drive to increase the adoption of robotics and automation in the UK. He is also a Director of the Manufacturing Technologies Association, Council member and past Chairman of the British Automation and Robot Association and has previously been Chairman of the International Federation of Robotics.

Our Panel

Rosie Davies

Managing Director at Reeco Automation

Rosie has 14 years’ experience in the robotics industry and joined Reeco Automation as Managing Director in April 2024. In addition to five years spent as a director at RMGroup, Rosie maintains a position on the board with industry association Automate UK as a robotics system integrator representative for the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA).

Dr Seemal Asif

Senior Lecturer, Cranfield University

Dr. Seemal Asif is a Chartered Engineer and Senior Lecturer in Robotics and AI at Cranfield University, where she leads the Intelligent Flexible Robotics Assembly (IFRA) group. With over 14 years of experience in academia and industry, her expertise spans robotics control, AI, software architecture, and human-robot collaboration. She is Investigator on multiple EPSRC and ATI-funded projects and is committed to advancing ethical, human-centred automation. A Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the Women’s Engineering Society.

Martin Miller

Head of Engineering, Supply Chain Greggs

Martin is a 35+ year veteran of the food industry. He has a vast experience of central and site based engineering and operations roles, responsible for both maintenance excellence and capital projects. For the last 15 years he has been working at Engineering Director level across multiple sites in the UK for FMCG businesses such as PepsiCo, Morrisons, Allied Bakeries and has been with Greggs since 2021. He has worked directly with over 70 different factories ranging from abattoirs through to flower bouquet production.