The UK’s PPMA group, comprised of four trade associations (Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, British Automation and Robot Association, Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association, UK Industrial Vision Association) reports that while robot sales for the first two quarters of 2012 have boomed in the automotive sector, a reluctance to integrate robotics in other market areas is causing the UK to trail competitor countries in the progression of highly automated manufacturing procedures. 

PROCESS ENGINEERING—In the first quarter robot sales of 923 units were recorded which is larger than the annual total for many of the previous years. The second quarter brought this figure to 2000 for the half…