Discover the future of woodworking automation at JJ Smith’s September showcase

The woodworking industry is entering a new era – one driven by automation, robotics and smarter manufacturing processes. To help manufacturers explore what this means in practice, JJ Smith is proud to present its Automation Show: The Future of Woodworking – a two-day in-house event taking place at the company’s Liverpool showroom on 15–16 September 2026.

Bringing together the latest automation technologies, live machinery demonstrations and keynote insights from industry experts, the event is designed to give woodworking manufacturers a practical look at how automation is transforming production environments across the UK and beyond.

See automation in action

Throughout the event, visitors will experience a range of live demonstrations showcasing how robotics and automation can improve productivity, consistency, workflow efficiency and material handling.

Demonstrations will include:

• Automated door production machinery

• Automated loading, unloading and stacking systems

• Robotic pallet-building systems

• Robotic A-frame cells

• Robotic sanding solutions

• Automatic crosscutting technology

• Additional automation solutions to be announced

The event will focus on real-world applications, helping visitors understand not only the technology itself, but also how it can be integrated into existing manufacturing operations.

Why automation matters

Manufacturers across the woodworking sector continue to face increasing pressure from rising costs, skills shortages, labour challenges, and demands for greater efficiency and consistency.

Automation is rapidly becoming an essential part of addressing these challenges.

From robotic handling systems to intelligent CNC integration, automation technologies are enabling manufacturers to streamline production, reduce repetitive manual processes, improve output quality and future-proof their businesses for long-term growth.

The Future of Woodworking event aims to provide practical insight into these opportunities while encouraging open discussion around the realities of adopting automation within woodworking manufacturing.

Keynote speakers & industry insight

Alongside the live demonstrations, the event will feature keynote presentations from experts within the automation industry.

Sessions will explore topics including:

• Why automate?

• The importance of robotics and automation in UK manufacturing

• Real-world automation journeys and lessons learned

• Challenges and common pitfalls

• Addressing skills shortages and workforce gaps

• Human collaboration and the role of skilled operators

• Future trends in woodworking automation and smart manufacturing

Further speaker announcements and session details will be released in the coming weeks.

Designed for woodworking manufacturers

Whether businesses are already investing in automation or simply beginning to explore the possibilities, the event is designed to provide valuable insight for a wide range of woodworking manufacturers, including:

• Door and frame manufacturers

• Pallet production companies

• Furniture manufacturers

• Sheds and garden building manufacturers

• General joinery businesses

  
  

Visitors will have the opportunity to speak directly with automation specialists, see systems operating live and discuss the practical realities of implementing automation within their own production environments.

The Future of Woodworking promises to be an exciting opportunity for the industry to come together, share ideas and explore the next generation of woodworking manufacturing technology.

EVENT DETAILS

When: 15–16 September 2026

Where: JJ Smith & Co (Woodworking Machinery) Ltd, Moorgate Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, Kirkby, L33 7DR

Attendance is free, but registration is required here: https://bit.ly/43bl1O5

For further information, contact JJ Smith on 0151 548 9000 or visit the website: www.jjsmith.co.uk.