CenFRA (the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation), a not-for-profit collaboration between North of England regional development agencies, food industry professionals and experts in robotics, is launching a cheque book scheme, offering the industry £1,000 towards the full cost of an audit to identify areas that could benefit from automation.
This subsidised approach would include, said the robotics body, an initial site review, from which the agency’s engineers would create a bespoke technology roadmap that identifies any hidden production opportunities and evaluates where robotics and automation could improve existing manufacturing or processing systems.
“These factory assessments will stimulate ideas and help manufacturers become more aware of emerging new technologies as well as further develop their understanding of the financial savings and practical paybacks that robotic and automated systems can bring,” said the agency.
The new scheme move follows other recent promotional methods undertaken by the UK robotics promotion body such as simulation techniques, which are claimed to enable firms to ‘virtually’ evaluate the merits of automating production processes before making investments.
In Europe, Germany, Italy and France have the greatest rates of robotic take up in the food sector. In 2009, German processors installed around 600 systems; over 300 were fitted in Italy, while French companies bought nearly 250. However, UK firms purchased fewer than 100, about half the number compared to their Spanish counterparts.
The recent economic recession had a devastating effect on the robotics industry but there is universal agreement in the robotics sector that the food and drinks industry is a fertile growth market for their products.
Mike Wilson, president of the British Automation Robotics Association (BARA) told FoodProductionDaily.com previously that he believes the potential of food industry to take up robotics is considerable, with the constant costs pressures a real spur to growth.
“Change is coming as the technology becomes cheaper,” he said. “The food sector has the biggest potential for growth and within ten years it could be reaching levels approaching those of the automotive industry.”
“The cost of labour is always increasing where as the cost of technology is going down,” commented Wilson. “The increasing importance of food safety is another important issue. If you can get people off the food processing line and reduce human contact with the product, you immediately cut the risk of contamination. Robotic systems offer this opportunity.”