Now is the time to unleash the
potential for robotics in UK
food manufacture
There are few who would argue that
2020 has been an extremely challenging
year as the COVID-19 pandemic has
changed the way in which businesses of
all types operate and more importantly,
the environment within which we work,
as we strive to contain the virus and
remain safe. As businesses adapt to
what is likely to be the new “normal” for
the forseeable future at least, and with
the ongoing uncertainty surrounding
the effects that Brexit may have as we
near the end of the transition period,
the debate surrounding robotics and
automation, especially within the food
manufacturing and processing sector, is
reaching a new peak.
It is becoming clear that robotics
and automation will hold the key to
achieving the efficiency and productivity
levels required for cost effective food
processing, especially in high-care
areas, and those which traditionally
have been labour intensive. This article
by Simon Jenkins of Stäubli explains
why now is the perfect time for the UK
food manufacturing sector to unleash
the potential that robotics holds, and
how companies will benefit, not only in
addressing the short term issues within
the sector, but in securing their future.
There is no doubt that historically
people have been the highly flexible
resource which has sustained
manufacturing in many sectors,
including food and beverage. The
ability of humans to adapt to changes
in products and processes is, even
today, unparalleled in some cases.
However, the demands for greater
quality, consistency and predictable
high productivity levels, combined with
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a growing shortage of manual resource,
have been the drivers for increased
levels of robotics and automation within
the food sector in recent times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also raised
the stakes for the adoption of robotics
and automation as a means of removing
people from what are now being seen
as the high risk environments within a
range of manufacturing environments,
including meat processing facilities.
Large numbers of people working
within a chilled and sometimes confined
environment have proven to be a
catalyst for rapid transmission of this
deadly virus.
Stäubli’s Simon Jenkins explains further:
“The food and beverage sector is
currently facing serious issues brought
about by difficulty in recruitment and
retention, the significant challenges
surrounding COVID-19 and future
uncertainty around the UK outside
of the European Union next year.
Although many of the potential benefits
of robotics and automation, when
applied to food manufacturing, have
been understood for some time, there
has still been a reluctance overall to
fully embrace the technology. The
often perceived barriers to automating
food manufacturing processes, those
of limited flexibility, complexity and
unsuitability for high care areas, are no
longer valid with the latest generation
robot systems. Many of the challenges
now being realised in high care areas,
such as meat processing, can be
addressed successfully using the HE
series robots, specifically designed
in conjunction with (EHEDG) - The
European Hygienic Engineering &
Design Group and their guidelines.”