NEXT-GEN CONFECTIONERY MACHINERY Andreas Schildknecht
is the vision of the “Factory of the Future”: a highly automated, connected and flexible production environment designed to ensure long-term competitiveness. This vision is driven by experts like
Andreas Schildknecht, Global Product Manager at Syntegon. Having joined the company in 2006 and bringing more than 25 years of experience in food packaging – with a particular focus on bakery applications – Andreas works closely with customers to translate technological innovation into practical, value-adding solutions. In the following section, he shares insights into the forces driving change in food production and outlines what the path toward the Factory of the Future can look like in practice. A shortage of skilled workers, rising
costs, margins under pressure and growing sustainability requirements have long become a reality for food producers. Companies must rethink their processes and become smarter, more connected and more adaptable than ever before in order to withstand these changes in the future and to stay competitive. This glimpse into the future of production shows what the path to the “Factory of the Future” might look like.
Machines that communicate with each
other and self-learning systems that optimize production processes: What sounds like science fiction is already gradually becoming a reality in the food industry. The industry is at a turning point. It's not just about technological advancement, but about fundamentally
changing how food is produced, processed and packaged. At the same time, the industry is facing major challenges. Demographic change is leading to a growing shortage of skilled workers – by 2030, around 1.2 million jobs in food processing will remain unfilled in Europe alone. While energy costs continue to rise, regulatory requirements are also increasing. Now is the time for companies to fundamentally rethink their production environments – and become smarter, more connected, sustainable and flexible than ever before. So, what does the "Factory of the Future" look like, capable of meeting these demands?
What’s Driving the Change Demographic change is already having a decisive impact on the food industry. According to a study by the European Commission, more than 75 percent of companies report difficulties in finding qualified staff. The situation is compounded by the age structure: fewer young professionals are entering the workforce while many experienced employees are heading toward retirement. Technical professions are particularly affected. As the demands for technical know-how increase, the skills gap widens. Automation is no longer optional – it has become a necessity: not only to increase efficiency, but to secure production altogether. The economic environment has also changed dramatically. Energy and raw material prices are on the rise while
42 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025/26
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
