When it comes to product handling equipment, snack producers and bakeries are looking for flexible machines that can run a variety of products and offer quick or completely automatic changeovers. Gentle product handling is a high priority, and there is great interest in robotics to complement the performance of cartoners, case erectors and packers, loaders, and palletizers.
“We see bakery/snack producers rapidly shifting toward automation,” says Nate Lee, regional sales manager, BluePrint Automation, South Chesterfield, VA. “One of the driving factors is the current 3 percent unemployment rate; there are not enough people to fill open positions. This is forcing the industry to look at utilizing more vision-guided, pick-and-place solutions.”