Author: Scanway
Publication date:
Labor shortages and rising labor costs are accelerating automation. Will Poland keep pace with global trends?
- According to forecasts by the Polish Economic Institute, there will be a shortage of 2.1 million skilled workers in Europe by 2030, which is driving accelerated automation;
- According to the World Robotics Report 2024, the global number of industrial robots exceeded 4.2 million, and a record 92,400 new units were deployed in Europe in 2023[1];
- Despite these trends, Poland still lags behind—our robotization rate stands at just 78 robots per 10,000 industrial workers, while in Germany it is 397 and in South Korea it is 1,000[2];
- Scanway intends to address this area and will soon begin commercializing its new HYDRA project—a modular vision system whose implementation can reduce operation times by up to 80%, thereby increasing production line efficiency and reducing waste.
Scanway experts point out that the automation and robotization of production processes in Polish industry can be supported by specialized image processing technologies, including machine vision. Automation and robotization are no longer just a trend, but a necessity. Growing challenges related to a shortage of skilled labor, rising labor costs, and the need to maintain high product quality are driving companies around the world to invest heavily in Industry 4.0 technologies. According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), there were 4,281,585 industrial robots in operation worldwide at the end of 2023, representing a 10% increase over the previous year.
From a staffing shortage to robotics
Europe faces an unprecedented demographic challenge. It is estimated that as many as 2.1 million experienced workers will leave the labor market by 2030[3], and younger generations are unable to fully fill this gap. In the industrial sector, this poses serious difficulties—the average age of manufacturing workers in Europe is currently 45–50 years and continues to rise, forcing an accelerated shift toward automation. This process has already begun: in 2023, more than 500,000 new industrial robots were installed worldwide[4], setting yet another record. Asian countries such as China and South Korea are leading this revolution, deploying as many as 1,000 robots per 10,000 industrial workers, while Germany is the leader in automation in Europe.
Unfortunately, despite increasing automation in manufacturing plants, Poland continues to lag behind the leaders in Europe and the world. According to the World Robotics Report 2024, the robot density in Poland currently stands at just 78 robots per 10,000 industrial workers[5], while in Germany it is 397, and in South Korea, as mentioned, 1,000[6]. In practice, this means that Polish companies still rely on manual production processes, which reduces their competitiveness. This trend also persists in the area of quality control.
– Image analysis systems are replacing traditional quality control methods based on manual inspection or random testing. Automating these processes not only increases precision but also makes it possible to anticipate potential problems before they affect the quality of the final product. Companies that invest in intelligent vision systems can, as a result, significantly reduce production waste and optimize their operating costs. We see these results among our industrial partners, where we have already completed more than 40 successful quality control implementations – emphasizes Radosław Charytoniuk, CSO of Scanway S.A.
Smart image processing technologies are needed
Modern vision technologies, AI, and automated data analysis are playing an increasingly important role in industrial process automation. Their use enables real-time monitoring of production processes and immediate optimization of parameters. By utilizing image analysis algorithms, vision systems can identify defects and anomalies at the micrometer level, enabling the effective removal of defective products as early as the production stage.
– Modern industry faces the challenge not only of the need for increased automation but also of rising quality requirements. The implementation of inspection systems based on machine vision and artificial intelligence allows for both the elimination of production errors and the dynamic adaptation of processes to changing conditions. In mass production, where every second of downtime results in financial losses, machine vision technology has become an indispensable element of effective management – comments Radosław Charytoniuk.
Advanced algorithms for machine learning and machine vision They support image analysis and enable even more effective defect detection. Their integration with production lines allows for the full automation of quality control and the creation of predictive production management models that minimize the risk of losses.
Thanks to the implementation of real-time data analysis technology, the following are possible: predictive detection of anomalies and the identification of defects at an early stage of production, dynamic quality control and real-time adjustment of production parameters based on collected data, as well as micrometric precision—that is , the detection of the smallest deviations from the norm—which is crucial in industries requiring the highest-quality components.
These technologies are widely used in industries that require exceptional precision, where even the slightest deviation from the norm can have significant consequences. Implementing them makes it possible not only to increase the efficiency of production facilities but also to reduce material waste and optimize operating costs.
– Industrial automation is not just about replacing people with machines. It is also becoming crucial to develop entire systems capable of analyzing, predicting, and independently making decisions that optimize production. The future of this technology lies not only in eliminating errors during quality control but also in creating more flexible and intelligent production environments that respond to changing market conditions. Scanway’s response to these challenges is its proprietary HYDRA vision system, which integrates the technologies we have developed and tested to date and enhances them with additional functionality based on new areas developed during R&D work drawing on our know-how. As a result, we are significantly increasing the solution’s level of automation and its scalability potential in Poland, and ultimately in Europe as well – Charytoniuk concludes.
The HYDRA system is a modular vision system from Scanway that enhances automation in industry by streamlining the management of production processes and quality control. Thanks to artificial intelligence (machine learning) and advanced image analysis, the system detects anomalies and predicts potential problems in real time. A key component of HYDRA is its hyperspectral scanners, which enable spectral-level analysis of materials—a capability that proves valuable across various industries, from automotive to food. The system combines imaging technologies, high-speed image acquisition, and real-time processing of large amounts of data. By integrating with existing production lines, it streamlines processes and enables companies to scale their operations. Its implementation can reduce operation times by up to 80%, increasing production line efficiency and reducing losses.
About Scanway:
Scanway S.A. is a Polish company that has been in business for 9 years. It specializes in the optical data chain, which includes data acquisition, processing, analytics, and event prediction based on that data. In the Space segment, the company provides both hardware solutions (optical instruments, such as telescopes and cameras) and imaging analytics. In the Industry segment, it offers solutions (products) based on image data processing, including complete quality control systems. The Company’s expertise and experience in both fields are complementary and create synergies. Scanway strives to provide its customers with full access to key optical data in both segments.
As one of only a dozen or so companies worldwide, Scanway has developed a complete range of optoelectronic products for Earth observation from orbit. The company carries out key contracts for space equipment in Poland and around the world, including for commercial clients. It also operates STAR VIBE, Poland’s longest-operating optical observation satellite. The company’s solutions have been incorporated into the most important European and Polish space missions of 2024. Among other achievements, the company installed its equipment (the Scanway Camera System) on the maiden flight of Europe’s newest launch vehicle, Ariane 6, and delivered Poland’s largest-ever telescope, weighing approximately 10 kg (SOP200) to EagleEye—the largest satellite Poland has ever sent into space.
The company has completed over 40 quality control implementations in the industrial sector. As a technology partner to the sector’s largest manufacturers, it develops proprietary software solutions using AI and advanced applications for Industry 4.0.
In October 2023, the Company made its debut on the NewConnect market. It has fully achieved the goals announced in its initial public offering and is currently preparing to move to the Main Market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. For more information:
https://scanway.pl/ and https://scanway.space/
Media Contact
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k.zadlo@scanway.pl
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