SergioMartin | Managing Director, ABB Robotics Spain & Portugal
How was your experience at Mindtech, and what is your assessment of the exhibition?
Our experience at Mindtech has been very positive.
Mindtech has been an excellent platform for showcasing ABB’s robotics and automation solutions, and for connecting with customers, partners and professionals from the industrial sector. We particularly appreciate the fair’s focus on the metal sector and advanced technologies, which is fully aligned with our vision of driving digitalisation, sustainability and competitiveness within the industry in Spain and Portugal.
The organisation, the calibre of the exhibitors and the quality of the visitors have lived up to our expectations, and we have emerged stronger in terms of both our market positioning and opportunities for collaboration.
What are the latest developments at ABB and its ongoing projects?
At ABB Robotics, we are driving the next evolution of industrial automation, integrating robotics, AI, machine vision and advanced software to deliver more flexible, autonomous and efficient processes.
One of the most significant launches has been OmniCore EyeMotion, our new smart vision solution that enables robots to ‘see’, interpret and adapt to their surroundings in 2D and 3D in real time. This technology, combined with our Automatic Path Planning Online system, enables the autonomous planning of optimal trajectories and reduces production cycle times by up to 50%. It is a decisive step towards our vision of Autonomous Versatile Robots (AVR™), robots capable of performing complex tasks with greater autonomy, precision and flexibility.
In the area of digitalisation, we are making progress with tools such as: RobotStudio® AI Assistant, which incorporates generative AI to make programming faster and more accessible, even for users with no prior experience; OptiFact™, a modular solution for collecting and analysing production data and optimising operations; and AppStudio™, a no-code platform that enables the creation of customised robotic interfaces, drastically reducing configuration times.
Furthermore, we continue to strengthen our offering in autonomous mobile robotics, integrating 3D vision and AI for safer, more efficient and adaptable intralogistics applications, particularly relevant for sectors such as the automotive and logistics industries. All of this reflects our commitment to bringing greater intelligence, autonomy and usability to industrial robotics, supporting the competitiveness of industry in Spain and Portugal.
What challenges do you see in electrification and automation, and in the sector as a whole?
The main challenge we see is accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable, electrified and digitalised industry without losing competitiveness.
This requires adopting technologies that boost energy efficiency, reduce emissions and improve productivity, both in large manufacturers and, in particular, in industrial SMEs that need scalable solutions tailored to their specific circumstances.
In automation, the challenge lies in integrating increasingly advanced systems – including robotics, AI, vision and software – in a safe, efficient and flexible manner, ensuring a gradual and sustainable transition for companies. Furthermore, the sector faces a clear challenge in terms of technical talent: the demand for specialists in robotics, programming and data analysis continues to grow.
It is essential to strengthen training, collaboration with educational institutions and skills development to ensure that industry in Spain and Portugal can make the most of the opportunities offered by advanced automation. At ABB, we are committed to supporting this transformation, providing technology, customer proximity and training programmes to boost the competitiveness of the Iberian industrial sector.
“Automation and AI are not the future of industry: they are the prerequisite for our industry to have a future”
What are your short- and medium-term expansion plans?
In the short to medium term, our growth strategy at ABB Robotics Spain centres on consolidating our leadership by building on three key pillars: technological innovation, a focus on strategic sectors, and close customer engagement.
In the technological sphere, we will continue to invest in advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision and software, with the aim of democratising automation and making it more accessible to all types of businesses – from large manufacturers to SMEs – helping them to accelerate their digital transformation with more flexible, intuitive and sustainable solutions.
From a market perspective, we will continue to strengthen our presence in key sectors such as automotive, metal, logistics, food and pharmaceuticals, where we see clear growth potential, particularly in mobile robotics applications, internal logistics and high value-added robotic cells. Furthermore, we will deepen our commitment to sustainability by developing solutions that increase energy efficiency, optimise resources and reduce environmental impact, supporting Iberian industry in its transition towards more responsible and competitive processes.
Finally, we will continue to invest in training and talent, as well as in partnerships with universities, technology centres, start-ups and strategic partners, to accelerate innovation and anticipate market needs.
Nuestro objetivo es ser el socio tecnológico de referencia para las empresas en España y Portugal, ayudándolas a competir en un entorno global y a avanzar hacia una industria más ágil, autónoma y sostenible.