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There is a big difference between buying a collaborative robot from a brochure and building an automated system with a partner who knows your shop floor.  At Cobots Online, we’ve always believed that while the technology is impressive, it’s the people behind it that makes automation work for UK manufacturers.

MACH 2026 is the biggest event in the calendar, and we aren’t sending sales teams - we’re bringing the core of our business to the NEC this April. As a family-led team with over 30 years of manufacturing experience and automation knowledge, we believe the best solutions come from a conversation, not just a catalog. 

Whether you’re looking to solve labour shortages, want to talk ROI, or understand how to manage your first cobot installation, the people who make it happen will be standing right there next to the machines. At MACH 2026, Cobots Online are there to help. 

The Faces Behind Cobots Online 

When you visit the Cobots Online team at Stand 20-280, you won’t find a salesperson. You’ll find our engineers and automation specialists who live and breathe shopfloor productivity. 

Tony Thompson, Managing Director: With decades of industry experience. Tony is the man to talk to about the big picture - how automation scales your business and secures your competitive edge in the UK market. 

Matthew Thompson, Commercial Director: Matthew specialises in the practicalities of making automation fit your budget and your goals. If you’re wondering about lead times or the business case for a specific cell, he’s your first port of call. 

Dan Thompson, Production Engineer: Dan is our technical lead and will be on hand to demonstrate cobot integration, showing you exactly how to program cells to handle complex parts. 

Libby Smith, Project Experience Coordinator: Libby will be on the stand to explain the Cobots Online journey - from your first site audit to post-installation support - ensuring your experience is seamless from start to finish.

We know that for many UK manufacturers, the jump to automation can feel risky. That’s why we’re looking forward to being there in person: to listen to your challenges, talk through ROI, and show you exactly how collaborative robots integrate into a real-world workspace. No gatekeeping, no corporate jargon, just honest advice from one British manufacturer to another. 

On Display at MACH 2026

We aren’t just bringing a static display, we’re bringing a fully functioning automation ecosystem to show you how different technologies work together. 

The Powerhouse: Brother SPEEDIO U500Xd2-5AX

The centerpiece of our stand is the Brother SPEEDIO U500Xd2-5AX. This high-speed, 5-axis vertical machining centre is built for complex, multi-face parts. We’ve paired it with our CoboTend mobile cobot solution to demonstrate lights out manufacturing in real-time. At MACH, watch how the cobot manages loading and unloading with sub-millimeter precision, allowing the Brother machine to do what it does best: manufacture complex parts.

Doubling Down on Productivity: A Second CoboTend

Because machine tending is the number one request we receive from SMEs, we’re bringing a second CoboTend unit! This allows you to get hands-on with the interface. You’ll see how easy it is to reprogram for different part sizes, proving that you don’t need a degree in robotics to run our automated cells.

The Precision Welder: CoboWeld

Welding is a craft, but the repetitive jobs can be a drain on your skilled workers. Our CoboWeld setup will be live on-site, demonstrating consistent, high-quality circular and linear welds. It’s designed to work safely alongside your team, taking the strain off your best welders so they can focus on complex fabrications. 

Gold Standard Collaboration: UR5e & UR10e

We will have UR5e and UR10e collaborative arms from Universal Robots on the stand. The UR5e is a versatile all-rounder, perfect for medium duty tasks and tight spaces. Featuring a 12.5kg payload and 1300mm reach, the UR10e is the one to watch for palletising or larger reach applications. 

Logistics on the Move: MiR250

Automation isn’t just about what happens at the machine; it’s about how parts move between them. The MiR250 is a fast, agile autonomous mobile robot that navigates around people and obstacles with ease. Watch is zip around our stand, showing how you can automate your internal logistics without ever needing to change your floor layout. 

Visit Cobots Online at MACH 2026

MACH is the perfect time to move from thinking about automation to acting on it and integrating solutions. We know that for many manufacturers, the leap into robotics can feel like a one-way street. Cobots Online are at MACH to show you that with the right team behind you, it’s actually a shortcut to growth. 

The coffee is on us, and the advice is free. Visit Stand 20-280 to talk about how to get your production line moving fast, your operations to be safer, and your business to become more profitable.