Robotics innovation at Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025
This year we attended Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025, one of Spain’s most important industrial events. The fair brought together professionals from the fields of manufacturing, automation and, above all, innovation in industrial robotics. At SEMAPRO, we didn’t want to miss out, so we attended on the first day to learn about the latest trends and share them with you.
In this article, we explain the innovations in robotics and automation that most surprised us at Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025. We will discuss high-precision laser welding, 3D printing applied to industry, a laser head developed by two major companies in the industry, welding torches with integrated suction, and safety laser scanners that make collaborative environments safer. Five advances that, in our opinion, will set the direction for industrial robotics in the coming years.
Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025, a showcase for innovation in robotics
Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona is one of the major showcases for Industry 4.0 in Catalonia and, in this edition, it has highlighted innovation in robotics. The fair has combined stands, live demonstrations and talks by experts. At SEMAPRO, we have taken note of the most interesting aspects and here we tell you about the trends that we believe will set the course for the industry in the coming years:
1. Laser welding: maximum precision and efficiency
Laser welding was one of the stars of the show. Compared to traditional processes, this technology offers cleaner, faster joining of parts with less thermal deformation. This makes it an ideal choice for sectors where precision is critical, such as automotive and aeronautics. We also saw solutions that integrate laser heads into robots, allowing complex welds to be automated with high repeatability.
2. Industrial 3D printing: direct and flexible manufacturing
Additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, continues to advance at a rapid pace. At the fair, we saw applications designed for industry capable of creating functional prototypes in different materials, with increasingly fast and reliable processes.
3. Laser head: an innovation in robotics applied to welding
Among the most technical innovations, we were struck by a laser head developed by ABB in collaboration with an engineering firm. This equipment is designed for industrial applications, enabling high precision and efficiency in welding processes. Solutions such as this demonstrate how laser technology continues to gain ground in automation, offering new possibilities to companies seeking to improve the quality and repeatability of their processes.
4. Welding torches with integrated aspiration
Occupational health and safety also had a place at the fair. At the Catsol stand, we found an Aritex installation with a Universal cobot where we could see a welding torch with an integrated fume extraction system. This solution not only improves conditions for the operator by reducing exposure to harmful particles, but also complies with increasingly stringent environmental and safety regulations. This is a clear example of how innovation in auxiliary equipment has a direct impact on productivity and staff protection.
5. Safety laser scanner: intelligent protection in robotised environments
Advanced robotics cannot be understood without reliable safety systems. Among the new developments, we were struck by a laser safety scanner capable of creating a ‘virtual field’ around the machine. This allows it to detect the presence of people and automatically adjust the speed or stop the robot if someone enters the work area. Solutions like this reinforce the trend towards safer collaborative spaces, where humans and robots can share tasks without risk.
Innovation in industrial robotics: where are we headed after the exhibition?
Our participation in
Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025
confirms that we are at a key moment for innovation in industrial robotics. The trend is clear: technologies such as laser welding, 3D printing applied to industry, new laser heads, welding torches with integrated suction, and safety laser scanners point to increasingly precise, safe, and flexible factories.
This evolution brings challenges, but also enormous opportunities. Many experts at the fair agreed that robotics is here to make people’s work easier: taking care of the most dangerous or repetitive tasks and leaving professionals more time for what really adds value, such as supervision, decision-making and design.
The competitiveness of the industry depends on the adoption of real innovations, such as welding and lasers applied to automation, 3D printing in production environments, and solutions that improve safety and ergonomics in welding. What we saw at the fair shows that these technologies are already here and will pave the way for more flexible, precise and intelligent factories. All of this is in line with the arrival of Industry 5.0, where people and robots work together naturally.
What lessons in robotics innovation did we learn from Advanced Manufacturing Barcelona 2025?
At SEMAPRO, we took away many discussions and reflections from this event. Sharing these innovations live with our audience on social media was a very enriching experience.
We hope this summary has been useful in helping you understand where innovation in robotics is heading in Spain and around the world. We invite you to follow our
blog and social media channels for more content on industrial technology, and of course, we look forward to seeing you at the next Advanced Manufacturing Madrid.
