This is where specialist integrators( SIs) can play an important role. Here at FANUC UK, our SI network includes experienced foodindustry integrators that can help manufacturers identify where automation will have the greatest impact, and design a solution around the specific requirements of their production and packing operation – not the other way around.
The financial case for automation
There is also a compelling financial argument for taking a targeted approach to automation. A welldesigned automation project can potentially deliver a return on investment in around two years, depending on the application and the costs being replaced or avoided. However, financing can make the proposition even more accessible. For example, if an automated solution were financed at £ 14,000 per month against an existing staffing cost of, say, £ 16,000 per month, the direct monthly cost comparison could result in a payback period of only around 29 days.
The precise economics will, of course, vary from one application to another. Labour costs, operating hours, throughput, equipment costs, financing arrangements and staff availability all need to be considered when calculating the actual return. But the broader point remains: automation does not necessarily require a huge capital investment or a lengthy payback period.
Building a more responsive food-togo operation
What is clear is that while the UK’ s food-to-go market is growing, growth alone does not guarantee profitability. Manufacturers are being asked to deliver greater variety, shorter lead times and smaller, more frequent orders while operating under continuing pressure to control costs.
By identifying the operational bottlenecks where automation can make an immediate difference, foodto-go producers can take a measured approach to investment. Palletising and packing offer particularly accessible starting points, providing improvements in throughput, consistency and labour utilisation without requiring a complete production-line transformation.
Ultimately, the manufacturers best positioned to compete in the fast-moving food-to-go market will be those that can combine speed, flexibility and efficiency. Strategic automation can provide an important part of that equation, helping producers respond to retailers’ changing demands while protecting margins and keeping products moving from factory to store as quickly as possible.
For food-to-go manufacturers, the question may therefore be less about whether to automate and more about where automation can deliver the quickest and most valuable return.
About Us
The FANUC Corporation is a global leader in industrial automation, supplying CNC control systems, robots, cobots, and production machinery( ROBODRILL, ROBOCUT and ROBOSHOT) to factories around the world. Since 1955, FANUC has made a significant contribution to the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing companies worldwide.
Operating in more than 270 locations globally and serving more than 100 countries with over 9,000 employees, FANUC offers a dense network in sales, technical support, research & development, logistics and customer service.
For more information, please contact:
FANUC UK Ltd, Sapphire Way, Ansty Park, COVENTRY, CV7 9DR
Phone: + 44( 0) 24 7605 3130
www. fanuc. eu / uk
There is another consideration that is sometimes overlooked when food manufacturers assess automation projects. Namely, the future value of the equipment. Standard palletising robots and other established automation technologies can be easier to repurpose or resell than highly bespoke automation systems. In the fast-moving food sector, markets change, product ranges evolve and retailer requirements can shift quickly. An investment in flexible, standardised automation can therefore offer greater longterm value beyond the immediate productivity improvement.
Dan Fisher, Head of Sales at FANUC UK
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