Siemens has teamed up with UK partners Expert Technologies Group and RMGroup to launch the United Kingdom’s first fully customisable manufacturing capability for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) — offering a flexible end-to-end solution to help British manufacturers boost productivity, streamline logistics and embrace smarter automation.
What’s New: A Flexible, UK-Built AMR Platform
The core outcome of this strategic collaboration is the creation of a locally manufactured AMR solution that is fully configurable to suit a wide range of industrial needs — from factories and warehouses to logistics centres. These robots are designed to help companies move materials and goods without fixed infrastructure or rails, adapting to dynamic production environments with onboard sensors and advanced navigation.
AMRs represent a step up from traditional automated guided vehicles (AGVs) because they can interpret their surroundings, avoid obstacles in real-time and cope with changing layouts — making them ideal for modern intralogistics and manufacturing floors.
How the Partnership Works
Siemens’ Technology Backbone
Siemens contributes its SIMOVE technology platform, a modular control system that underpins the AMRs’ capabilities — delivering scalable performance, data collection and systems integration for digital twin simulations and broader factory automation.
Expert Technologies Group
Expert Technologies Group provides the FlexDrive AMR platform, which is built around Siemens’ SIMOVE core. It offers advanced navigation features such as:
- Path planning and dynamic positioning
- Obstacle avoidance
- Customisable drive platforms for different industrial tasks
This flexibility allows AMRs to be tailored to a company’s specific workload and environment — from light logistic movements to high-volume fleet operations.
RMGroup’s Integration and Safety Expertise
RMGroup brings integration expertise, deploying Siemens’ laser-based navigation and wireless safety software so the robots can perform both conventional track-based and free navigation in busy worksites. Real-time safety zones adapt as the AMRs move — increasing reliability and compliance with industrial safety standards.
Real-World Use and Benefits
The AMRs built through this collaboration can be deployed for:
- Transporting raw materials and components between workstations
- Delivering finished products to storage or distribution points
- Supplying production lines with parts on demand
Because they don’t require fixed guides or physical tracks, AMRs can be easily reassigned to new tasks or workflows as production demands change — a major advantage for manufacturers seeking agility and responsiveness.
Early adopters across sectors like automotive, aerospace and food & beverage could see benefits including:
- Reduced manual handling
- Lower operational costs
- Improved throughput
- Enhanced worker safety
Why This Matters for UK Manufacturing
This initiative positions the UK as a centre of industrial robotics innovation — not just as a user of automation but as a producer of cutting-edge autonomous systems. By building the capability domestically and embedding expertise with trusted UK integrators, the partnership aims to close gaps where overseas engineering support has historically slowed adoption.
Siemens’ UK & Ireland Managing Director Brian Holliday emphasised that collaboration is vital to drive digitalisation and keep British manufacturers competitive on the global stage — particularly as advanced automation becomes a cornerstone of modern production.
Looking Ahead: Broad Adoption and Future Capabilities
The partnership doesn’t stop at single robots. The UK-built AMR solution is designed to scale into large fleets, and it builds a foundation for deeper integration with digital systems such as:
- Real-time data analytics and digital twins
- 5G and industrial wireless networks for connected operations
- AI-enhanced autonomous decision-making in logistics workflows
These features align with broader trends in digital manufacturing — where smart, networked robotics enable manufacturers to respond to competition, labour challenges and shifting market demand.
Key Takeaways
- Siemens and UK partners have launched the first fully customisable AMR manufacturing capability in the UK.
- The solution combines Siemens’ control technology with adaptable drive systems and integration expertise from Expert Technologies Group and RMGroup.
- The AMRs are designed for flexible tasks across intralogistics and production, enabling smarter, infrastructure-light automation.
- This move strengthens UK capabilities in industrial robotics and supports manufacturers aiming to boost productivity, safety and competitiveness.