ABB Robotics will use MACH 2026 to demonstrate a suite of collaborative and industrial automation technologies aimed squarely at mid-market metal fabricators contending with persistent skilled-labor shortages. The company plans to showcase collaborative cells for arc welding and machine tending, the FlexLoader FP800 3D vision-enabled picking system, RobotStudio digital simulation tools, and modernization services at Stand 18-640 in Hall 181MACH 2026 | Automate UK, when the exhibition opens at the NEC in Birmingham on April 20.
Background
MACH 2026 runs April 20-24 at the NEC in Birmingham and is expected to draw thousands of attendees. More than 500 exhibitors will serve sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine engineering, medical, food, and agriculture. Dedicated Knowledge Hubs will focus on automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, data and artificial intelligence, and consumable tooling.
The timing is significant. According to CADDi's 2026 Manufacturing Outlook Study, conducted with SME and surveying more than 200 U.S. manufacturing professionals, 79 percent of manufacturing executives identified the skilled-labor shortage as their greatest challenge. That same study found 69 percent of manufacturers plan to invest in robots and equipment in 2026, up from 60 percent the prior year. While the CADDi data reflects U.S. respondents, UK fabricators face analogous pressures. ABB's own figures indicate that 29 percent of manufacturers have identified automation as a major priority to address shortfalls in skilled manual welders.
Details
ABB's MACH stand focuses on three product areas relevant to high-mix, low-volume fabrication environments.
The OmniVance collaborative arc welding cell demonstrates how a cobot can automate welding operations, enabling operators to program sequences in minutes through an intuitive Easy Teach Device and making robotic welding accessible to first-time users. A collaborative machine tending solution shows how cobots automate repetitive loading and unloading tasks through a teach-and-run approach built on standardized hardware and intuitive interfaces.
The FlexLoader FP800 is a compact robotic cell for fully automated machine tool tending from pallets. It handles semi-oriented workpieces arranged in layers without special fixtures or CAD models, and new parts can be taught in under 10 minutes.
RobotStudio, ABB's offline simulation and programming platform, enables manufacturers to design, program, and optimize robotic systems in a virtual environment before deployment, reducing commissioning time2Skilled Labor Gap Reshapes How Manufacturers Invest for 2026 According to New Study | ASSEMBLY. Its digital twin capability addresses growing demand among mid-market fabricators for tools that lower the risk and cost of automation projects.
"Demand for automation in metal fabrication is accelerating, especially for welding applications," said Alan Conn, Managing Director of ABB Robotics UK & Ireland. He noted that the trend reflects a broader industry need to embrace robotic automation to improve productivity and counter ongoing labor shortages.
Outlook
ABB's Modernization Services, also featured on the stand, are positioned to help manufacturers combine robotics, digital engineering tools, and lifecycle services to build more flexible factories3Manufacturing Labor Market 2026: No Hiring Surge Yet. For mid-market fabricators evaluating their first or next automation investment, the MACH lineup signals a clear industry direction: standardized, easy-to-deploy collaborative cells paired with digital simulation tools designed to reduce integration risk across multi-vendor shop floors.
