Automation’s Next Frontier: Robotics in Print Manufacturing

By David Sweetnam and Mark Boyt, Keypoint Intelligence

Robotics has reached a meaningful point in production print. Once viewed as a technology suited to automotive lines, robots now support flatbeds, label presses, bindery systems, and textile operations. The driver is simple. Print providers need higher throughput, steadier quality, and reliable output in an era defined by labor shortages.

Early conversations with production environments reveal clear themes. Robotics helps stabilize staffing by taking on repetitive, physical tasks and running unattended for long periods. Productivity improves as well. Automated board loading, robotic palletizing, and integrated material handling reduce idle time and allow presses and finishing lines to operate closer to full capacity. Quality benefits, too. Vision-guided systems keep alignment tight, minimize handling errors, and create more predictable results.

Economics matter just as much. Many adopters report saving one or two full-time roles per line while boosting uptime. Even small utilization gains translate into meaningful annual margin improvements. As workflows settle, payback periods are often shorter than expected.

Challenges remain. Upfront costs, integration complexity, and questions about job variability persist. Teams also need time to adjust, especially as robots tend to reassign work rather than eliminate it.

To understand these shifts, Keypoint Intelligence is launching a global study on robotics in production print. Whether your organization is already using automation, considering it, or steering clear for now, your input will help define a clearer view of where robotics fits in the industry’s future.

Take the survey and help shape the industry’s next chapter.  It takes just 15 minutes, and in return, all respondents will receive £60.