Food & Drink

The benefits of automation to food manufacturers

The benefits of automation to food manufacturers

Winning a large retail contract is a coup for any food manufacturer. However, supermarket price wars and changing food presentations to gain and maintain the interest of consumers, means that many manufacturers are being squeezed out of the market. Paul Wilkinson, business development manager at Pacepacker Services, looks at how automation can help. Today, most […]

By April 29, 2016 0 Comments Read More →
FANUC highlights CR-7iA cobot at Foodex 2016

FANUC highlights CR-7iA cobot at Foodex 2016

FANUC shared a stand with Abar Automation stand at this year’s Foodex Show, and visitors to the stand were handed a free can of soft drink by FANUC’s latest collaborative robot – the CR-7iA. Based on FANUC’s first mass produced collaborative robot – theCR-35iA – this new robot has a payload of 7kg and the […]

By April 27, 2016 0 Comments Read More →
Pacepacker identifies food industry robot trend

Pacepacker identifies food industry robot trend

There’s been a surge of interest among food suppliers for robotics, observes Paul Wilkinson, business development manager at automation specialist Pacepacker Services. “Shows like MasterChef, Bake Off and celebrity cookery programmes, combined with a desire to lead healthier lives using fresh ingredients, are influencing people to cook everything from exotic cuisines to local produce from […]

By March 10, 2016 Read More →
Global launch for DeLaval teat spray robot

Global launch for DeLaval teat spray robot

The DeLaval teat spray robot (TSR) is one of the first fully automatic teat spray solutions for dairy farms with rotaries. In September 2015, it won the Dairy Herd Management Innovative Product Award which was presented at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. This award and the TSR’s success on existing US farms are believed to […]

By February 9, 2016 Read More →
FANUC and Pacepacker develop pot swap unit

FANUC and Pacepacker develop pot swap unit

In response to rising retailer demand for mixed product trays, FANUC UK has collaborated with integrator Pacepacker Services to engineer a first-of-its-kind robotic pot swap tray loading system. The robotic pick and place unit swaps pots between cardboard trays combining FANUC’s LR Mate200iD robot with Pacepacker’s new Mixed Tray Loader (MTL) technology. It provides a […]

By February 3, 2016 Read More →
Innovations for the food industry at AUTOMATICA

Innovations for the food industry at AUTOMATICA

The food and beverage industry is subject to immense cost pressure. To remain competitive, producers are looking for powerful automation solutions with reasonable investment costs at the same time. AUTOMATICA 2016, which will take place in Munich from June 21 to 24, presents suitable solutions for the industry. Pictured right: ABB FlexPicker robots are proven […]

By January 29, 2016 Read More →
Mitsubishi robot addresses cake slicing challenge

Mitsubishi robot addresses cake slicing challenge

When automation OEM Newtech looked to design a new ultrasonic cutting machine for the bakery industry, it turned to Mitsubishi Electric for a fast, efficient, flexible and clean robotic solution. The result is an innovative machine design that can cut cakes to the highest levels of precision, working flexibly for different portion sizes and quantities, […]

By January 12, 2016 Read More →
RA Rodriguez wins second Clipper Teas order

RA Rodriguez wins second Clipper Teas order

To boost production in order to meet increased demand, Clipper Teas invested in a specially designed system for packing the tea bags from the point where they exit the tea bag making machine. Frontline Packaging was chosen to design, manufacture or source all of the elements and it recommended the inclusion of a Universal Robot […]

By January 9, 2016 Read More →
FANUC robots boost production at waffle plant

FANUC robots boost production at waffle plant

Sugar, vanilla, chocolate coated, soft or crispy; Belgian waffle house Biscuiterie Thijs knocks out thousands of batches of the batter snack every day. What started as a family business in 1976 has grown into a waffle empire supplying the likes of Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour, Jumbo and other European supermarkets. Catering to this growth, in 2013 […]

By December 8, 2015 Read More →
Cambridge Consultants demonstrates fruit picker

Cambridge Consultants demonstrates fruit picker

A robotics breakthrough by product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants is set to boost productivity across the food chain – from the field to the warehouse. It paves the way for robots to take on complex picking and sorting tasks involving irregular organic items – sorting fruit and vegetables, for example, or locating and […]

By November 11, 2015 Read More →