Cobots are changing manufacturing, but the real value comes from seamless integration
Cobots have radically redefined expectations for automation, emerging as a direct response to some of the industry's most pressing pressures. Persistent labor shortages, rising production demands, and the physical limitations of traditional factory layouts have made flexibility a priority. Their appeal lies in their combination of simple integration, affordable investment levels, and the ability to operate safely. In this article, Hakan Aydoğdu, CEO of Tezmaksan Robot Technologies, a company specializing in CNC automation, reflects on how collaborative technologies are redefining automation.
The latest World Robotics 2025 report highlights the rapid acceleration of this shift towards automation. Industrial robot installations reached 542,076 units in 2024, more than double the figure recorded a decade earlier. This is the fourth consecutive year in which annual installations have surpassed the half-million mark.
Asia continues to dominate, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all new installations, while Europe and the Americas account for much smaller shares. These numbers reveal not only the speed of adoption but also the global imbalance in automation readiness.
The global automation landscape
Recent research by Make UK highlights that approximately 36% of manufacturing vacancies are difficult to fill due to a lack of candidates with the right skills, qualifications, or experience. Collaborative robots are playing an increasingly important role in filling this gap. By taking on repetitive, physically demanding, or high-risk tasks, cobots help manufacturers maintain production levels even in times of labor shortages.
Cobots consistently deliver increased productivity and more reliable quality, freeing human workers to focus on complex or value-added tasks. They also help improve workplace well-being by reducing stress and injuries, and their simple programming makes automation achievable without long wait times or extensive training. For many companies, this combination accelerates the path to a measurable return on investment.
Navigating the new regulations
In the manufacturing sector, cobots are increasingly used to optimize assembly lines and improve operational workflows. Studies indicate that cobots can significantly improve productivity by automating repetitive tasks and allowing human workers to focus on more complex tasks that require cognitive skills.
Regulatory frameworks are evolving alongside this technological momentum. The EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230, which replaces the previous Machinery Directive, was adopted in 2023 and will be fully applicable from January 2027. It introduces a more rigorous approach to safety, liability, and cybersecurity for advanced machines and collaborative systems. The new requirements push manufacturers toward clearer accountability and more rigorous compliance processes, signaling that compliance and safer integration will become a key factor in the implementation of automation in the coming years.
For engineers, this has direct implications for the design, implementation, and validation of collaborative robotic systems. In logistics environments, cobots are increasingly used for palletizing, order picking, and intralogistics material handling, where integrated vision systems, force sensors, and safety scanners enable close human-robot collaboration without traditional safety cages. In automotive manufacturing, cobots support precision assembly, screwdriving, quality control, and machine servicing, improving cycle time consistency and reducing ergonomic strain on operators.
Best practices for seamless integration include conducting task-specific risk assessments in line with ISO 12100 and ISO/TS 15066, implementing safety-certified monitored shutdowns, speed and separation monitoring, and ensuring robust cybersecurity controls for connected robotic cells. Engineers are also advised to prioritize modular system architectures, standardized industrial communication protocols (such as PROFINET or EtherCAT), and digital simulation tools to validate layouts and workflows prior to physical implementation.
Challenges in legacy production environments
Many manufacturing environments are aging or are built around legacy systems that weren't designed for robotics. Restricted layout plans, outdated infrastructure, or patchy connectivity can complicate integration. When new technology meets older equipment, the process can become costly or time-consuming if the two aren't seamlessly aligned.
A robot's capabilities alone don't determine how collaborative automation will work. Installing and configuring robotic systems, integrating software, and maintaining everything involved can push a team beyond its current capabilities. The initial costs, from the equipment itself to facility modifications and staff training, can seem high, especially in the current economic climate.
Traditional robots, typically built for fixed, repetitive tasks, often require extensive reprogramming every time they change products or layouts, resulting in downtime that can quickly erode their overall advantage. To address these limitations, manufacturers are adopting increasingly flexible automation approaches that prioritize rapid deployment, reconfigurability, and scalability of investments, especially for small and medium-sized operations.
For example, the CubeBOX EcoLEAN-V1 and V2 allow systems to be repositioned and adapted as workflows evolve. This flexibility allows manufacturers to scale automation incrementally without tying production to fixed layouts. This reflects a broader shift towards agile automation, solutions designed to adapt to changing production needs. EcoLEAN is available in various configurations to support different payloads, part sizes, and space constraints, enabling deployment in a wide range of production environments.
The right investment
A Deloitte survey of 600 manufacturing executives in 2025 found that 80% of them plan to invest 20% or more of their improvement budgets in smart manufacturing initiatives this year, with a focus on core tools and technologies.
This level of commitment signals a clear shift in the industry: manufacturers no longer view digitalization and automation as optional upgrades, but as essential capabilities that will define competitiveness in the years to come.
While collaborative technology is driving this transformation, it is flexibility, mobility, and financial accessibility that will ultimately redefine how manufacturing operates and who has access to the benefits of automation.
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