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 | | FIRST ROBOTICS CENTRE FOR FOOD PROVIDES MAJOR BOOST FOR UK PRODUCERS | | | CenFRA Ltd | | 28/05/2008 | | | The UK's food industry has received a massive boost to its long-term sustainability and efficiency with the opening of a new Centre to foster the adoption of greater automation.
Doncaster is the new site for the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CenFRA Ltd) which is relocating from Rotherham. CenFRA is Europe’s only Centre for Food Robotics and Automation and its new state-of-the-art premises was formally launched on May 22nd.
This is the culmination of two years work by Yorkshire Forward, whose insight and vision led to the establishment of CenFRA. The aim of CenFRA is to improve the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of the UK food sector.
CenFRA’s main thrust is to introduce increased efficiency and profitability with the use of robotics and automation. It aims to fulfil that goal through providing nationwide food automation technology audits to identify opportunities for robotic installations which will enable enhanced production. Additionally the Company will provide practical, independent advice on automation equipment and its suitability to meet the specific requirements of individual businesses. Where no commercial answer currently exists then CenFRA will work alongside the company to develop a bespoke solution.
Chairman of CenFRA Ltd, Michael Taylor, believes a key part of the company’s role is to remove several of the misconceptions about automation within the food industry, which until now has been unable to access a source of independent advice.
He said: "CenFRA is most keen to support companies with impartial advice and guidance on the wide variety of automation solutions available – some starting at less than £20,000 - and to assist them in identifying and quantifying the significant cost benefits that can result.”
As a further incentive, food manufacturers in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions even qualify for free automation audits, whilst companies in other UK areas can access the same services and facilities, for a small charge.
A team of experts in food robotics and automation from the University of Salford has undertaken technology audits and provided advice and is shortly to be augmented by additional experienced technologists from other specialist academic and engineering centres. These together with CenFRA’s own group of engineers will respond to the growing demand that has already been identified.
More than 50 companies have already requested audits, each of which results in a detailed report highlighting where low-cost automation can be introduced with a focus on the simplicity of currently available solutions. If required, however, CenFRA can also design and develop exclusive systems and concepts where there is no appropriate commercial solution,
In addition CenFRA will direct research and development on a variety of generic issues related to food and drink processing and the potential for automation.
Yorkshire Forward’s Executive Director of Business, Simon Hill, who will formally open the new building, comments: “As part of the CenFRA service it will be providing seminars, training days, best practice updates to food companies and information on the latest technologies, production processes and methods.”
Yorkshire Forward has provided the main funding for CenFRA reflecting the key role that food processing and production plays in the Yorkshire and Humber economy, and in the wider reaching global markets. In addition the industry in the area like many in the UK has been slow in the uptake of food automation.
Food producers have played a major role in the success of the region's strong manufacturing base and they currently employ over 60,000 people in more than 1,100 companies producing £2,631 million in revenues but despite this the industry has remained reluctant to embrace robotic technology.
Further afield across both the North West and North East a similar picture emerges and for this reason the Northern Way (an amalgamation of the three northern based RDA’s) has also invested in the initiative. Collectively this provides a strong base on which the company will operate and focus its efforts on stimulating adoption of robotics and automation.
CenFRA, which is a not for profit organisation, recognises and emphasises that through greater automation not only can operating costs be significantly reduced, but it can help competitiveness and provide improved working conditions. Together it is expected these will aid the longer term sustainability of the industry.
Michael Taylor emphasised: "The potential for robotics in the food industry is extremely significant for traditional operations, such as picking, packing and palletising, but it can be equally applied to more advanced applications, such as meat cutting, inserting jams and mixing complicated recipes for example. Robotic food handling often has several applications undertaken on the same production line in addition to packaging, such as slicing, positioning and dish-making. The wide variety of food packaging employed gives robotics an advantage over the hard automation systems currently deployed."
He added: “This flexibility means there is great scope for robots to boost output in food production plants.
If UK food producers wish to retain their competitive edge and quality over foreign, sometimes low cost competitors, it is vital that they embrace the new automation opportunities that CenFRA can identify and help implement.“ | |
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