en.Wedoany.com Reported - The engineering team at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited (part of the NSG Group) at the European Technology Centre in Lathom has used immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to plan and review the installation of a new robotic cell, creating a full-scale 3D model of the area before physical construction began. The virtual model enabled the team to assess layout, safety, and workflow within a shared digital environment, ensuring potential design conflicts were identified and resolved early in the process.

This approach represents an evolution in the company's engineering review methods. By using VR, the team collaborates more efficiently on complex projects, reduces the need for repeated site visits, and gains a clearer understanding of how personnel, machinery, and equipment interact within the production environment. Globally, the market for VR in manufacturing is expected to grow by nearly 30% annually by 2032, as companies adopt immersive tools to enhance precision, productivity, and sustainability.

Following the successful installation of the robotic cell, the engineering team is exploring the application of VR to more R&D and production projects.

"VR allows the team to bring designs to life before they reach the factory floor, accelerating project validation, improving safety, and identifying optimizations that would only be discovered after installation," said Dave Ash, Regional Sustainability Manager at NSG Group. "What started as a practical solution has now become an opportunity to rethink how we design and communicate complex engineering work, opening new avenues for teams to collaborate globally and share expertise seamlessly across borders."

This innovative initiative supports the NSG Group's make change™ sustainability strategy, which focuses on driving positive change in operations. By adopting advanced technologies such as VR and automation, Pilkington UK is improving efficiency, enhancing safety, and reducing environmental impact. For example, the use of robots on its patterned glass production line in St Helens, Merseyside, has made the handling, removal, and stacking of glass safer and more efficient.

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