NEWS n 5 THE VAST MAJORITY (87%) of UK manufacturers now regard digital transformation as essential, with 48% identifying AI as the technology with the greatest impact. The figures come from Rockwell Automation’s 11th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, based on interviews with 1,500 manufacturing leaders in 16 countries – including around 200 from the UK. The report says that the UK has moved beyond early-stage adoption of digital technologies into a phase where digital investment must translate into operational performance. The manufacturers report that they are allocating an average of 27% of their operating budgets to industrial technologies, with 49% having already invested in AI, and 38% planning further investment in this area. Cost remains the biggest barrier to wider adoption of digital technologies, cited by 27% of UK manufacturers, www.drivesncontrols.com June 2026 followed closely by data security concerns (26%). More than a quarter (27%) of the manufacturers say they have deployed digital twins, and a further 47% are planning to invest in this technology. “UK manufacturers are moving beyond experimentation into a phase where digital technologies must deliver consistent operational outcomes,” says Rockwell’s UK managing director, Phil Hadfield. “The challenge is no longer access to technology, but the ability to embed it into production environments in a way that improves performance, resilience and competitiveness.” Cybersecurity has emerged as the leading AI application for UK manufacturers (cited by 48% of them), followed by quality control (42%), process optimisation and product design. Half of UK manufacturers report experiencing at least one cyberattack in the past year, despite 62% saying they have invested in cybersecurity technologies. Workforce factors are determining how quickly digital technologies can be adopted in the UK. Rising labour costs are cited as the top workforce challenge by 40% of manufacturers, followed by change management (36%). Rather than cutting jobs, they are focusing on reskilling and developing their workforces, with more than a third of employees now involved in training programmes designed to support digital roles. Almost half (44%) of UK organisations report adopting technologies that create more engaging roles for their staff, while 43% are introducing more flexible working. Three quarters (76%) of UK manufacturers now see AI skills as being critical to attracting the next generation of talent. The implementation of digital technologies is being constrained by the availability of data, with manufacturers reporting that they use less than half (45%) of the data they collect, suggesting a gap between data generation and decision-making. Operational data is most commonly being used to support process optimisation (36%), product quality monitoring (35%) and AI models (33%). Almost half (43%) of UK manufacturers report that they are already using elements of smart manufacturing technologies. A further 21% say they are already deploying these technologies at scale, while 15% are currently piloting them. The report suggests that UK manufacturing is entering a new phase of digital transformation. The foundations have been laid, investment established and adoption is widespread, it says. The next challenge is execution – turning digital capability into consistent, scalable performance in a complex landscape. Almost all UK manufacturers now regard digital transformation as ‘essential’ Hadfield: UK manufacturers are moving beyond experimentation FLORIAN SCHNEEBERGER Schneeberger, president of ABB’s Machine Automation division and CEO of B&R Industrial Automation, has been killed in a road accident in Salzburg, Austria. Schneeberger, 55, died when he was hit by a trolleybus that had left the road after the driver is thought to have suffered a stroke. Schneeberger joined ABB in 2022 as chief technology officer for B&R, and was appointed president of the machine automation division in November 2025. Earlier in his career, Schneeberger worked for Skidata and Philips Healthcare. In a statement, B&R said: “Florian was a valued colleague, friend and CEO. He led the Machine Automation Division with great dedication, technical passion, and expertise. “Those who knew Florian will remember him as an exceptional colleague, a trusted friend, and a deeply respected leader,” it added. “His visionary thinking, dedication and expertise drove a culture of innovation and strengthened our customer partnerships worldwide. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Florian embodied the values we hold dear – inspiring us to pursue excellence in both our work and our personal lives.” Earlier in his life, Schneeberger was an accomplished yachtsman who was a World Cup champion for four years running from 1993-96, European champion in 1996, and took fourth place at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. President of ABB Machine Automation dies in an accident Florian Schneeberger, 1971-2026
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