In the ordinarily unassuming realm of construction and communications, the unexpected thrill of a James Bond encounter can turn an ordinary day into a cinematic adventure… as Agent 00444 Antony Lowbridge-Ellis discovers.
If you are a listener to the ‘Our Month In Bond’ episodes of the Licence to Queer podcast, you’ll know that my husband David and I have a segment where we discuss the random moments from across the month when we suddenly thought about 007.
Early in the new year, as part of a work project (I lead a PR and marketing function for a construction joint venture), I was invited to the fascinating world of KUKA Robotics in Wednesbury, a town in the heart of England’s Black Country, an area with a rich industrial heritage.
Seeing the robotic arms around the HQ of KUKA Robotics’ UK division, my mind couldn’t help but be drawn to Bond.
KUKA Robotics is a powerhouse in automation, playing a largely silent yet very significant role in shaping the futuristic landscapes we’ve witnessed in many much-loved entertainment properties – from theme parks to TV shows and movies. KUKA technology makes possible many of the world’s most lauded rollercoasters, including Universal Studios’ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Anyone who braves the ride will, for example, find themselves being taken on an adventure on the end of a KUKA KR500 R2830 robotic arm.
But back in 2002, one KUKA robotic arm took its biggest starring role to date: Pierce Brosnan’s Die Another Day.
Visiting these headquarters, my mind couldn’t help but rewind to the iconic scene where Jinx, portrayed by Halle Berry, found herself in a high-stakes showdown with a KUKA robotic arm and henchman Mr Kil. Yet it’s a moment that almost didn’t make it to screen. Katherine Nowill, head of marketing at KUKA, explained to me that It’s important to them that the world sees the positive benefits of what robotics can do, so they refrain from partnerships which show the technology causing harm or injury.
A robot arm is only as injurious as the person who programs it of course. Incidentally, a KUKA arm was used by a killer in a 2020 episode of long-running TV murder mystery series Midsomer Murders.
But KUKA arms are just as frequently used by fictional characters on the side of the angels. The sleek, precise movements of KUKA robotic arms are reminiscent of Q’s ingenious gadgets, so you can see why the Bond producers had one installed in his lab in No Time To Die (it’s clearly visible on screen and in publicity photos).
While my day-to-day activities in the construction and communications realm might seem worlds apart from Bond’s globe-trotting escapades, the visit to KUKA Robotics highlighted how we’re never that far away from a truly electrifying connection to the franchise we all love.
Even though I had been visiting to talk about how local businesses benefit from public transport investment (exciting, eh?), watching robotic arms in action kept pulling me back to thinking about 007. It certainly added a layer of excitement to my day job on a Thursday afternoon in early January.
The more I think about it, I suppose there always have been parallels between the meticulous planning required in my own line of work and the strategic thinking portrayed in the Bond films, yet the link only became apparent from my visit to KUKA. Both worlds rely on precision, innovation, and a touch of elegance. It was as if the excitement of Bond had infiltrated my everyday routine, turning mundane moments into thrilling adventures
The visit to KUKA Robotics in Wednesbury wasn’t just about witnessing the future of automation but experiencing the silent partnership between technology and the timeless allure of James Bond. The robotic arms, with their cinematic legacy, injected a dose of espionage into my day, proving that even in the ordinary, the extraordinary can be found – a sentiment that undoubtedly resonates with every 007 fan.
Last modified: 13 January 2026
