CenFRA Ltd, Europe’s only centre for food robotics and automation, is helping the bakery industry remain competitive during this extremely volatile economic time with its specialist guidance and support on the use of automation and robotics.
Fosters Bakery is the latest company to reap the benefits of improved productivity following its £1.5million investment in automation and robotics systems at its Barnsley plant.
Investing in automation can help ensure the long-term sustainability of the baking industry, and is money well spent according to Fosters’ operations director Michael Taylor.
The UK food industry has under invested in automation compared to its global competitors and CenFRA believes that it is important that all sectors should be embracing the new technologies that are available.
Some in the bakery industry have issues over factory space, or are concerned that automation is not cost effective for small runs, while others fear that switching to robotics could compromise the quality that hand crafted products traditionally provide.
Overcoming these reservations and advising bakery companies of the enormous potential for automation in production is CenFRA’s aim. The company is making the industry aware of the opportunities available to help maximise their productivity and profits, through impartial, independent, quality advice.
Speaking of his experience with robotics and automation, Mr Taylor commented: “Fosters designed a fully bespoke baking robot to load and unload a real oven. Unfortunately while the design was great, there were problems with getting the robotic solution to work.
“CenFRA engaged with Fosters and evaluated the baking robot before setting out a project plan to get the robot up and running. What CenFRA does prior to the introduction and integration of robotic equipment is key to getting things to work. Through the expertise of CenFRA’s research and development team, the company has been able to re-design and re-formulate the robot and support the re-evaluation and integration of this robot in the bakery, which is due to be complete in April 2009.”
Others in the bakery industry can also benefit from CenFRA’s expertise and the organisation is offering all bakery companies in the Northern Way free audits, while there is only a modest cost to those located beyond this region.
In addition CenFRA is organising and hosting seminars, training days and providing information on the latest technologies, production processes and methods related to automation applicable to the bakery manufacturing sector.
Bakery is worth 10 percent of the overall food industry and CenFRA is committed to generating awareness, helping to stimulate ideas and highlighting the positive impact that innovative automation solutions can have for this crucial sector.
CenFRA is funded principally by Yorkshire Forward but with additional support from Northern Way and the Centre is in partnership with a consortium of the country’s leading independent robotic and automation facilities headed by the University of Salford.
CenFRA Ltd
David Cheeseman
Tel: 01302 765680
E: david.cheeseman@cenfra.co.uk
Comments are closed.