FOOD & BEVERAGE THE KEY TO PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
What are the issues currently affecting the food processing industry, and how can they be overcome? Kwaku Owusu-Ansah, Industry Manager for Yale Lift Truck
Technologies, offers some solutions...
ood processing is a significant and vital sector, characterised by robust growth and a substantial market size. For example, the European food and drink industry alone generates a turnover of €1.1 trillion and contributes €222 billion in value added. However, to take advantage of this market potential, food processing companies must overcome industry wide issues.
F sustainability investments. Raw material costs
The food processing industry is heavily impacted by the volatility of raw material prices. The past decade has seen significant fluctuations, with costs increasing steadily. This rise puts pressure on already narrow profit margins. However, the right fleet management programme can help control costs in materials handling fleets within food processing. Fleet management programmes analyse applications and operational data to help right-size warehouse equipment fleets. This approach helps to minimise idle equipment, reducing unnecessary costs, and improving overall efficiency. Maintenance also plays a key role in fleet management. It is a factor which can maximise equipment lifespan and performance. Preventative and predictive maintenance both also help limit equipment downtime, and therefore potentially costly operational disruption.
Maintaining equipment correctly can also help extend its useful life, delaying the need for new equipment acquisitions. In addition, maintenance may help trucks operate reliably for longer. These are both welcome factors in an industry where new equipment budgets are declining. As added benefit, this approach also helps reduce environmental impact by maximising the use of existing assets.
The sustainability agenda The food industry is a primary target for emission reduction initiatives. As such, there has been a substantial increase in
Trends such as clean labelling, plant-based products, and 3D food printing are becoming more prevalent. These practices emphasise transparency, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction, addressing both environmental impact and consumer demand.
Yet while there is a desire to further integrate sustainability into the materials handling part of food processing operations, it presents challenges. Opting for electric equipment has often meant dealing with costly lead acid battery maintenance and replacements and relies upon robust and expensive charging infrastructure.
However, lithium-ion power for lift trucks and warehouse equipment may present a solution. Lithium-ion batteries have a useful life up to three times longer than lead acid counterparts. They can often be charged quickly and efficiently, optimising energy use and associated costs. As lithium-ion batteries can be opportunity charged in-situ, this transition also eliminates the need for large battery storage and charging rooms, helping remove a barrier to zero-emission equipment adoption.
Strict standards
Strict food safety regulations, traceability, and temperature control standards are daily considerations for food processing applications. Food business operators are required to keep detailed records that can demonstrate compliance with safety standards. This includes information on the suppliers of raw materials, production processes, and distribution channels. Day in, day out, food processing sites must avoid food contamination as a bare minimum. When materials handling equipment is involved, this can become more complex. Operational environments with corrosive fluids
28 JULY/AUGUST 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
can affect food safety, equipment, and productivity, causing downtime. Food contamination from non-grade food lubricants could be both dangerous and litigious for food producers.
Here, businesses can opt for materials handling equipment with food grade lubricants to help minimise risk around incidental contact causing food contamination and resultant product recalls. Lithium-ion also offers a clean technology for battery powered machines. It eliminates tailpipe emissions, and factors like fumes and acid are eliminated around food handling. The EU Official Controls Regulation (OCR) also encourages the use of modern technologies to enhance traceability and visibility. This includes digital record-keeping, electronic reporting systems, and other technological solutions to track and trace products throughout the supply chain. Here telematics, such as Yale Vision, help optimise traceability, all while driving greater fleet efficiency.
Telematics may also support operational safety in other ways. For example, only allowing operators with the correct training credentials to access and operate equipment. Or providing impact monitoring, alerts, and incident data, which may help with route optimisation. It may also track training updates needed.
Companies must also adhere to regulations around operational safety for employees. Such as supporting operators to avoid musculoskeletal injuries or physical injuries. Failure to do so could lead to incidents, fines, and unplanned downtime. Selecting equipment that optimises operator comfort is key.
Yale Lift Truck Technologies
www.yale.com
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