Incorporating


more


automation


also


impacts food safety. There’s less risk of contamination when a machine is handling the product versus a human. In addition, the labour shortage many processors face is real. Because they struggle to find people to hire to fill open roles, using machinery to automate more processes is often the answer. If they can’t find someone to hire, they think – “How do I automate this? Of course, bits and pieces of many processes have been automated for years, with human workers augmenting the production line. However, those jobs often entail working in a cold, damp environment, meaning workers sometimes don’t stay long.


2) Continued development helps processors keep up with growth areas and hot products: Looking ahead to see how they can capitalise on popular trends can help processors stay up to speed in the frozen food industry. With categories like frozen pizza continuing to grow, processors are thinking about developments coming maybe three or four years from now. Anticipating those needs and working on the developments that will help them is one area of focus for us. For example, probably a decade ago, vision capabilities were added to the equipment used to make frozen pizzas. That technology has been adopted by other parts of the industry, allowing for enhanced operations there as well. It’s now a key part of industries like building fresh sandwiches. So, some of the technological advances we’ve seen have come from our work in the frozen food industry. Other developments that stemmed from the frozen pizza market were around sanitation and ways to assemble and manufacture products faster. This has increased speed maybe tenfold. What we’ve learned there has enhanced the rest of our offerings. 3) Some frozen food categories require specific cleaning and sanitation: In plants that process gluten-free or nut-free items, for example, equipment needs to be easy to clean and sanitise. Finding a company to manufacture products that allow for this can be challenging.


Formulations can differ in gluten-free


items, so the machinery needs to be designed or adapted to support processing these products. 4) Technology advances will help processors further optimise their equipment and processes: Optimising each piece equipment through the use of technology


of bakeryproduction.co.uk


Automation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about food safety and tackling labour shortages. We ask:


‘How do I automate this?’ because sometimes, it’s the only answer”


will result in less waste and energy usage while allowing for predictive maintenance. As data acquisition speeds up the process of analysing the data collected and incorporating the findings, greater strides can be made to optimise the production line. For example, to do maintenance remotely, someone at a processing plant could put on their augmented glasses, and a technician at another location could talk them through how to service a machine. This would save the processor from sending a human technician to the site while speeding up response time and decreasing cost.


Better technology also improves food quality. One example would be the quick-freezing technology now used for some individual


items and meals. The fast-growing frozen foods market will continue to drive overall advancements in the processing industry. As the frozen food industry surges, driven by the popularity of convenient options like pizza, processors are leveraging automation and innovation to meet soaring demand. From enhancing food safety to tackling labour shortages, automation emerges as a vital solution. Moreover, by anticipating future trends and embracing technological advancements, processors stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. With continued focus on product development, sanitation, and technology integration, the industry is poised for sustained growth, promising a flavorful future for frozen food enthusiasts.


Kennedy’s Bakery Production April/May 2024 13


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