# Episode 145: Robotics and automation in manufacturing - Agata Suwala

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-02-20
- Length: 26m
- Episode: 145
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala

## Summary

Agata Suwala, a Technology Manager at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), discusses leveraging robotics to make manufacturing systems more sustainable, particularly in the aerospace sector. She explains how automation is transforming manual processes like drilling and fastening, while highlighting the challenges of disassembling complex products like EV batteries for the circular economy. Suwala also addresses the barriers to robotics adoption among UK SMEs and promotes MTC's new automation accelerator program.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala#t=7) Introduction: Agata Suwala and MTC
- [3:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala#t=205) Robotics in Aerospace Manufacturing
- [8:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala#t=481) Robot Dexterity and Flexible Objects
- [13:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala#t=783) Robotics and the Circular Economy
- [21:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala#t=1269) Barriers to Adoption and MTC Accelerator

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Manufacturing Technology Centre (company)
- ARIA (company)
- Robot Dexterity programme (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [490: Wait Until Physics Has Happened](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-11-28-490-wait-until-physics-has-happened) (Embedded.fm)
- [Leadership Perspectives on Robotics, Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-09-leadership-perspectives-on-robotics-highlights-from-automate-live-in-detroit-mi) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Sustainability in the Robotics-as-a-Service Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-10-26-sustainability-in-the-robotics-as-a-service-industry) (Over the Air)
- [BONUS: Exploring Manufacturing Partnerships Part 1, Live from IMTS 2022 (brought to you by KUKA)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-08-bonus-exploring-manufacturing-partnerships-part-1-live-from-imts-2022-brought-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Re-skilling coal miners; Jibo returns; Perseverance Rover heads for Mars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-07-29-re-skilling-coal-miners-jibo-returns-perseverance-rover-heads-for-mars) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-20-episode-145-robotics-and-automation-in-manufacturing-agata-suwala. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Robot Talk.