There has been a back-and-forth conversation about automation throughout the manufacturing sector for over a decade now, and often, the conclusion is that the businesses with the most to gain from automation are the largest processing and manufacturing businesses. For small and mid-sized enterprises, full or partial automation are optional investments, as and when the money is available.

We disagree. Yes, automation is optional, but with the technology now more advanced, reliable, and accessible in terms of price than ever before, businesses of all sizes in the food industry stand to benefit from factory automation.

How To Automate A Factory

In practice, not everything in a factory needs to be automated. However, when investing in automation, the area with the potential to deliver the most value is picking and placing. Pick and place machines deliver savings and efficiency benefits in one of the most labour-intensive areas of food processing and manufacturing: packing and finishing. Not only is time and money saved through automation, but throughput potential is increased and bottlenecks are avoided, lowering the risk of costly delays.

For some factories, pick and place automation becomes a gateway to further automation, with integrated central control systems managing and coordinating all automated equipment. Automated guided vehicles, pick and place robots, and collaborative robots (e.g assembly robots or QA robots) can all be used within a factory environment or warehouse for tasks as varied as predictive maintenance, data collection, picking and packing, production, and order fulfilment, supporting your team to maximise productivity.

How far you choose to go on your automation journey depends on your current and future goals, your sector, and the demands of your customers, but embracing automation at any level will help future proof your enterprise by enabling you to adapt to changing market dynamics and technological advancements.

How Pick And Place Machines Works

Automated pick and place machines are the workhorses of automated factories. Pick and place machines use a variety of robotic components, including sensors, robotic arms, grippers, and control systems to automate the identification, positioning, lifting, and movement of objects within your packhouse with precision and accuracy. Automating your pick and place operation facilitates faster order processing cycles, reduced setup and production times, and, ultimately, faster delivery of products.

What Next?

If you would like to find out more about how pick and place machines work and how automation can benefit your business, please contact one of our specialists today for a free discussion of your requirements.

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