Engineering • Automation

Accelerating human progress through intelligent automation.

473 Automation is a founder-led engineering consultancy specialising in automation, machine vision, and robotics. We build systems that work in the real world — on real production lines, with real constraints and deadlines.

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About us

Founder-led engineering with hands-on delivery.

Rob English

Rob English

Principal Engineer & Founder

Rob is an engineer specialising in automation, machine vision, and robotics, with experience of delivering complex systems for large global manufacturers across automotive, food, consumer goods, and industrial sectors.

He has led the full lifecycle of automation and vision projects - delivering technically challenging projects from scoping and feasibility through to build, deployment, and customer handover. Using innovative and cutting edge technologies to solve conplex real world problems.

Prior to founding 473 Automation Ltd, Rob engineered machine vision and quality improvement systems as Innovation Team Lead at Bytronic Vision Intelligence, Bromsgrove UK, and as Quality Project Engineer at Tesla, Berlin Germany. Rob holds a Mechanical Engineering MEng from the University of Cambridge.

Machine Vision Robotics Machine Learning Python Industrial Automation Cambridge MEng
How we work

Every project starts with an honest conversation about what you need, what's feasible, and what success looks like. We scope carefully, move fast where it counts, and don't ship until the system is genuinely ready for production use.

  • Scope — define deliverables, timeline, and success criteria upfront. No surprises mid-project.
  • Prototype — validate the hard technical risks early with real hardware and real data before committing to full build.
  • Build — engineer the full system with production robustness in mind from day one, not as an afterthought.
  • Deliver — commission, test, document, and hand over with everything the team needs to operate and maintain it confidently.

Services

Robotics

Robotics

Path planning, controls, tooling, integration, safety, and commissioning for industrial and R&D robotic systems.

  • System architecture, proof-of-concept builds, and deployment support.
  • Mechanical, software, and controls decisions aligned to delivery risk.
  • Cobot integration and development.
Vision

Vision

Quality inspection, tracking, calibration, lighting, cameras, and production-ready machine vision systems.

  • Vision pipelines designed for real parts, variable lighting, and real throughput.
  • Integration with robots, PLCs, edge devices, and reporting systems.
  • Integration with keyence, cognex, basler, lucid and other vision systems.
  • Custom industrial PC vision software development.
Machine learning

Machine Learning

Data preparation, model training, evaluation, deployment, and ongoing monitoring.

  • Practical ML for detection, classification, prediction, and process optimization.
  • Built with maintainability, traceability, and operational handover in mind.
  • Leverage deep learning, computer vision, and machine learning to solve real-world problems.
Automation

Automation

PLC/SCADA integration, instrumentation, test rigs, and production support.

  • Controls integration across sensors, actuators, operators, and existing plant equipment.
  • Focus on uptime, traceability, and safe maintainable systems.
3D printing

3D Printing

Rapid prototyping, fixtures, tooling, jigs, and low-volume functional parts.

  • Fast iteration for mechanical validation and production support tooling.
  • Useful for concept builds, enclosures, brackets, and process improvement hardware.
  • FDM, SLS, SLA, DLP, LCD, and other 3D printing technologies.
3D scanning

3D Scanning

Capture geometry for inspection, reverse engineering, fit checks, and digital workflows.

  • Support for part comparison, dimensional understanding, and design feedback loops.
  • Useful for legacy parts, complex surfaces, and real-world integration constraints.
Composite materials

Composite Materials

Development support for lightweight structures, tooling, processes, and manufacturing workflows.

  • Support for prototyping, process improvement, and specialist manufacturing setups.
  • Combines material understanding with practical engineering delivery.

Industries

Examples
  • Manufacturing — inspection, assembly, traceability, and throughput improvements.
  • Warehousing — picking, sorting, tracking, and automation integration.
  • R&D — rapid prototyping, proof-of-concept builds, and feasibility studies.
What you get
  • Clear scope — deliverables that map to business value.
  • Evidence — test results, logs, and validation artifacts.
  • Handover — documentation and training that reduces risk.

Partners

Partner types
  • System integrators — joint delivery and commissioning support.
  • OEMs & vendors — hardware selection and integration engineering.
  • Product teams — embedded vision and automation features.

Contact us

Please include your industry, location, timeline and success criteria.
We aim to respond within 24 hours

Fast response, clear next steps.

Email

Reach out with a brief overview of your project, and we’ll suggest a practical next step.

info@473automation.com
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