Advancing Automation and Robotics for Sustainable Manufacturing report
This report, developed by RoLL, CFIN/UKFT and MTC in collaboration with industry partners, explores the critical role of automation and robotics in shaping the future of the UK fashion and textile industry. It highlights current capabilities, challenges, and opportunities, offering strategic insights for manufacturers, designers, and policymakers seeking to future-proof production and address skills shortages, rising costs, and sustainability goals.
The document reports the findings of a workshop which paralleled the MTC’s Sustainable Innovation Conference which took place in April 2024. The event looked to explore avenues to ‘Enhancing existing UK manufacturing capacity’ and brought together over 30 representatives of the UK Fashion and Textiles sectors to discuss the potential use cases for robotics in the UK, including leading fashion and textiles manufacturers and retailers. These discussions were supplemented by a follow-up survey and interviews, offering deeper insights into key themes and challenges.
Attendees explored 4 thematic areas:
Speculation on Micro ToolingPolicySoft roboticsCutting tool demo
Key recommendations include:
Success metrics for the UK Fashion and Textiles Industry include adoption of more advanced machinery and tooling across the sector.
UK Fashion and Textiles companies could increase efficiency, reduce production costs, improve production quality and consistency using robotics with the right financial support e.g. inward investment.
The UK Fashion and Textiles sector needs support to modernise across the supply chain. Automating fabric cutting, sewing, bonding and pressing tasks as well as the sorting of raw materials, identifying textiles for recycling, and defect detection in textiles can all be carried out by robots.
There is an opportunity to upskill the workforce in the Fashion and Textiles sector, developing a new narrative around modern industry and industrial practices, where UK firms may lack expertise in the latest technologies.
UK Fashion and Textiles firms could move from prototype to scaled production with the efficient use of collaborative robotics.
Ease of use is crucial for the adoption of collaborative robotics as companies are more likely to invest if systems are intuitive and accessible.
Engaging with industry to identify skills gaps, working in tandem with universities to develop new courses in sustainability and circular economic models.
Recognising that the UK has emerging strengths in a combination of AI technologies, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries as a driver for Fashion and Textiles sector growth.
Inclusion of the Fashion and Textiles sector in new Industrial Strategy policy.
The UK Fashion and Textiles Industry and a wider manufacturing ecosystem could become a scaled-up innovative business sector that could develop circular economic models for sustainable growth.
