INDUSTRY News
Bühler’s Flavour Creation Centre is running at full speed
The Flavour Creation Centre, which is part of Bühler’s recently-expanded food innovation hub in Uzwil, Switzerland, is now functioning at full speed. It combines Bühler’s proven expertise in roasting and grinding cocoa and coff ee beans and processing malt and nuts to create new fl avours. With cutting-edge infrastructure and an integrated network of Application & Training Centres, customers can develop recipes and test new processes under one roof.
“Customers can try new fl avour, roasting, or new grinding profi les for their products,” said Skeljzen Nesimi, Head of Product Management and MarCom, Chocolate and Coff ee at Bühler. For coff ee processing, customers have access to diverse
roasting technologies, such as tangential roasters and drum roasters. These solutions support their search for the best fl avour profi le, processing time and colour. “More recently, start-ups and some established producers
are rethinking conventional products and experimenting with alternative raw materials, such as barley, carob and oats, to create bean- free chocolate and coff ee. Bühler supports these companies not only in fi nding the right process and equipment, but also in developing recipes. By combining our know-how and infrastructure with the scientifi c knowledge of our academia partners, we can support our customers in achieving tangible results, accelerating changes and designing the future of food,” said Bühler’s Nesimi.
ABB COLUMN ALL GOOD THINGS….
They say all good things must come to an end, and looking back over thirty years with ABB, I am retiring having thoroughly enjoyed my time with the company.
My latest appointment was as ABB’s General Manager – Robotics and Automation UK and Ireland – the culmination of a career that has brought great satisfaction in helping countless companies take
advantage of the benefits of robotic automation solutions. It all began with my acquaintance with a former employee of ABB Robotics – talking with him triggered a great interest in working in the field and I immediately set about trying to get into this exciting business. I virtually pestered ABB until they recognised that I had something, and I joined the company as a junior sales engineer in 1990. My first significant sale was to a Japanese automotive OEM. I suggested an alternative solution to customer, winning the contract by showing that ABB could think in depth about the real production challenge. In those days, everything was planned using paper diaries, and if the company wanted you to get in touch, you’d need to find a public phone. Now, mobile phones and laptops make everyone always available, part of the drive for efficiency and productivity that ABB is very much promoting. Over the years, particular highlights for me include helping grow sales
tenfold, achieving similar success in global management and improving the UK and Ireland operation with new capacity and facilities. Today, there is a greater range of applications, with AI and Augmented Reality making robotics more accessible. ABB has added AMRs, more capable robots and user-friendly programming, giving more opportunities to support customer needs. For people looking for a worthwhile career, I can’t recommend engineering enough – it is a wealth creator, one that takes raw materials and turns them into useful products that can benefit us all. My career has been a lot of fun, and I know that the people stepping up have what it takes to continue building the business. In retirement, I want to rebuild a house and sail more often – but I would also like to remain associated with the industry, so hopefully I can contribute to the world of robotics for some years yet. I would like to close by thanking my customers, colleagues and friends within the UK and Irish manufacturing community for their support, guidance and fun I have enjoyed over my career.
Nigel Platt, LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
Decaying infrastructure is bad for growth
A new report by audit, tax and consulting fi rm RSM UK and industry body Make UK shows that UK infrastructure has worsened over the last decade, holding back key investment and growth for manufacturers and becoming a barrier to labour and skills. “An eff ective industrial strategy is necessary for manufacturers to thrive in the UK. A critical part of this plan must focus on infrastructure investment – incorporating both physical and digital networks. Only then will the business environment in the UK meet the needs of industry and employees, and eff ectively connect people and places. By investing in infrastructure, this would show real commitment to levelling up, and ensure that the manufacturing industry remains buoyant on the local and national level,” said Mike Thornton, National Head of Manufacturing at RSM UK. “Our transport systems, energy networks and digital connections are all
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enablers to growth. A focus on expanding the digital infrastructure and improving the quality of roads, electricity and even rail will support the engine of our economy. Manufacturers have made their needs clear and infrastructure must be a priority for a long-term industrial strategy, coupled with investment in all other areas, such as innovation, fi nance, tax, regulation and education.” Verity Davidge, Director of Policy at Make UK, added: “Manufacturers are clear that the UK’s infrastructure is creaking at the seams and is getting worse, with very real impacts on their business. For too long in the post-war period there has been an acceptance in government that the economy will tick along without the need for long-term planning in our road, rail, energy and, now, digital networks. That complacency has now been well and truly shaken.”
Automation | February 2024 7
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