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
a growing shortage of manual resource,
surrounding COVID-19 and future
processing, especially in high-care
have been the drivers for increased
areas, and those which traditionally
uncertainty around the UK outside
levels of robotics and automation within
have been labour intensive. This article
of the European Union next year.
the food sector in recent times.
Although many of the potential benefits
by Simon Jenkins of Stäubli explains why now is the perfect time for the UK
The COVID-19 pandemic has also raised
food manufacturing sector to unleash
the stakes for the adoption of robotics
the potential that robotics holds, and
and automation as a means of removing
how companies will benefit, not only in
people from what are now being seen
addressing the short term issues within
as the high risk environments within a
the sector, but in securing their future.
range of manufacturing environments,
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
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.
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food manufacturing processes, those of limited flexibility, complexity and unsuitability for high care areas, are no longer valid with the latest generation robot systems.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
in products and processes is, even
Stäubli’s Simon Jenkins explains further:
addressed successfully using the HE
today, unparalleled in some cases.
“The food and beverage sector is
series robots, specifically designed
However, the demands for greater
currently facing serious issues brought
in conjunction with (EHEDG) - The
quality, consistency and predictable
about by difficulty in recruitment and
European Hygienic Engineering &
high productivity levels, combined with
retention, the significant challenges
Design Group and their guidelines.”
50 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
