Tags: Research and Development

As the UK starts to recover from recession, food automation plans are firmly back on the agenda as manufacturers strive to keep production costs down, in the knowledge that cheap labour is not a long term option.

The smarter food companies are looking to grow out of the recession using the latest technologies and equipment, according to CenFRA, Europe’s leading centre of excellence for food robotics and automation, which has recently recruited more engineers thanks to a surge in new enquiries.

However, CenFRA, ‘a not for profit company’, believes one of the biggest barriers to automation is a shortage of food manufacturing experience in the automation suppliers and automation experience within the food manufacturers. This lack of experience coupled with a lack of confidence in food companies means that many producers are unable to access the engineering resources needed to recognise automation opportunities and then specify, buy and install the optimum solutions.

CenFRA’s overall aim is to successfully bridge the gap between equipment manufacturer and end user to ensure that reliability, trust, clarity and cooperation are integral parts of the automation procurement process. CenFRA’s expertise and independence benefits all parties, by helping to eradicate uncertainty in purchasing decisions and giving food manufacturers the confidence that the correct investment choices are being made.

Equipment suppliers will also be looking for closer partnerships with food manufacturers to ensure history does not repeat itself and there is a viable future for both industries.

ABB Robotics food and beverage segment manager, Alan Spreckley has already recognised the value of the CenFRA initiative: “It is CenFRA’s unique application knowledge and impartiality, which makes it so essential to the industry.

“The company has established itself as a vital resource centre, bringing suppliers, installers and food producers together to ensure that the correct purchasing decisions are made. There is no hidden agenda with CenFRA, it is not focused on selling machinery but instead is committed to providing the bridge in automation knowledge and expertise between equipment producer and buyer.”

Over the past two years CenFRA has built secure relationships with national and regional food producers by giving them unique knowledge access to the benefits of automation through factory audits and ‘one-to-one’ consultancy. Using discrete event simulations, CenFRA engineers produce virtual replicas of factory space and activity to determine where a technology is appropriate and how an installation can be optimised and integrated without disruption to manufacturing operations.

This level of trust is further strengthened by support from researchers, academics and technologists, who all provide industry guidance and updates on technological advances, enabling CenFRA to recommend the most up to date solutions and the best ‘person’ for the job.

Funded principally by Yorkshire Forward, CenFRA was created to help increase the uptake of automation and robotic solutions within the food and beverage manufacturing sector by addressing the perceived issues surrounding the capabilities of new technologies and supporting a more sustainable future for the industry.

Background Information

CenFRA Ltd (Centre for Food Robotics and Automation) mission is “To support the future sustainability of food and drink manufacturing in the UK by providing leadership, guidance and assistance in the development and application of automation”.

Funded principally by Yorkshire Forward but with additional support from Northern Way (an amalgamation of the three Northern-based Regional Development Agencies) the Centre is in partnership with a consortium of the country’s leading independent robotic and automation facilities.

Driven by food industry professionals CenFRA is working towards becoming the beacon organisation for all robotic and automation activities related to the UK food and beverage manufacturing industry including education, consultancy and research and development.

Since its formal launch in 2007, CenFRA has established itself as Europe’s leading centre of excellence, providing valued knowledge and services to the food and drink industry.

The CenFRA organisation is Europe’s first Centre for Food Robotics and Automation and is located in Crompton Business Park at Doncaster. It is supported by a dedicated team of professional engineers, researchers and technologists drawn from a wide variety of academic and specialist engineering centres. All are highly experienced in the field of mechanised food assembly and automation technology.

Mike Wilson, Managing Director, CenFRA Ltd, 1 Crompton Business Park, Crompton Road, Doncaster, Tel: 01302 765680 ,  Email: mike.wilson@cenfra.co.uk -

www.cenfra.co.uk