HIGH-SPEED PRODUCTION


Specifically designed for the gentle packaging of chocolate products, Theegarten-Pactec’s CHS can achieve outputs of up to 1,800 products per minute.


manual intervention and potential handling errors,” said Andrew. Cobots are also be deployed earlier in


the process, particularly at the packing and labelling stages, where they can automate the picking and placement of packaged confectionery products into boxes with consistent force control, helping to avoid damage to delicate goods. “Ultimately, by combining advanced


robotics, vision systems and flexible programming, confectionery manufacturers can achieve faster, more efficient production without compromising on product integrity,” concluded Andrew.


Increasing production capacity UK-based chocolatier Choc Affair has been able to achieve a significant increase in production capacity with support from Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber. Made Smarter was created following a 2017 industry-led review into how UK manufacturing industries could prosper through the use of digital tools and innovation. Today this government- based partnership organisation is helps manufacturing SME’s to digitalise their processes to help increase productivity, reduce overheads, and a boost quality, capacity, and profits. Prior to the investment in a high-tech labelling machine and the adoption of, the business was only able to label 600,000 bars per year, which was limiting its growth potential. Recognising the need to improve


22 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • JUNE 2026


WITH DELICATE PRODUCTS SUCH AS CHOCOLATE, PRALINES OR SOFT


CONFECTIONERY, SPEED MUST BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SMOOTH,


SYNCHRONISED MOTION RATHER THAN


THROUGH HIGHER MECHANICAL STRESS


efficiency, Julian Barrie, Managing Director at Choc Affair, attended a York Manufacturing Roundtable event, where he met Mike Pennington, Business Relationship Manager at the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, which delivers the Made Smarter scheme locally. Following engagement with Made


Smarter, the company went through a digital transformation workshop process, which broke down its digital journey into quick iterative steps and created a roadmap of how to get there. This identified the digital tools and technologies that the organisation could implement to help it maximise operational processes and enhance growth. It also highlighted the skills that would be


needed within the organisation to achieve its digitalisation goals. Based on the roadmap recommendations, the business was able to secure funding to invest in a new labelling machine which has increased labelling capacity to 1.5 million bars per year. This has led to faster turnaround times, reduced costs and improved competitiveness, without the need to recruit additional staff. The adoption of this technology has also enabled Choc Affair to scale production within its existing site. The business estimates a 45% increase in turnover, while quicker response times are helping to strengthen customer relationships and encourage repeat business. Balancing speed with gentle handling


When it comes to confectionery packaging, the key challenge is not simply to move products as fast as possible, but to keep the entire process under control. “With delicate products such as chocolate, pralines or soft confectionery, speed must be achieved through smooth, synchronised motion rather than through higher mechanical stress,” argued Markus Rustler, Managing Director at Theegarten-Pactec GmbH & Co. KG. One important technology that is helping


achieve this is continuous motion. “Unlike intermittent systems, continuous-motion machines can avoid repeated start-stop cycles. Product and packaging processes move in a constant, coordinated flow, which reduces acceleration and deceleration forces. This helps minimise deformation, breakage and surface damage, while also


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