Magazine
Issues from Factory Future
Latest Editions
Upcoming Editions
Machines That Work Together: The New Era of Robotics and Factory Automation
Factory automation is moving beyond isolated machines performing repetitive operations. Industrial robots, collaborative robots, autonomous mobile systems, machine vision and automated material handling are increasingly being connected into flexible production environments. This edition examines the changing role of robotics and automation across the factory floor, exploring how machines can coordinate tasks, work alongside people and respond to changing production requirements while improving consistency, productivity and operational control.
The Factory in 2026: Technologies That Changed the Way Things Are Made
Manufacturing technology continued to advance throughout 2026 as factories adopted more connected machinery, automation, robotics, intelligent software and energy management systems. Artificial intelligence also began finding practical applications across inspection, maintenance and production analysis. This edition brings together the technological developments that influenced factory operations during the year, examining how machinery, software, data and people increasingly worked as parts of a connected production environment rather than as separate elements.
The Factory Future 2027: Building the Next Generation of Production
Factories enter 2027 with automation, connectivity and intelligent software becoming increasingly integrated into everyday production. Machines can generate operational information, robots can perform more varied tasks and digital systems can provide greater visibility across the shop floor. This edition examines the technologies shaping the next generation of factories, from production machinery and industrial networks to artificial intelligence and robotics, while exploring how manufacturers can combine these capabilities into reliable, flexible and productive operating environments.
The Intelligent Production Line: When Machines, Software and Data Work as One
Modern production lines increasingly depend on communication between machinery and the digital systems surrounding it. PLCs control equipment, sensors observe processes, SCADA systems provide supervision and manufacturing software connects production activity with wider operational requirements. This edition examines the technology architecture behind an intelligent production line and explores how machines, software and data can work together to provide greater visibility, consistency and responsiveness while helping operators understand what is happening across production in real time.