Fosters Bakery fixes robot to boost plant production

Fosters Bakery aims to boost morning goods production capacity by 50% by working with the Centre for Robotics and Automation (CenFRA) to improve the performance of one of the bakery's robots.
The automated solution was installed some time ago and was designed to load and unload Fosters' bread ovens.
However, CenFRA helped the Barnsley-based baker overcome teething problems with the robot resulting from the sensitivity of its heat sensors. "We liaised with Fanuc Robotics UK to reprogramme it and reworked the electrical systems to make them safe to use and compatible with the oven," said David Cheeseman, CenFRA commercial director.
The modified kit is now working effectively and is expected to deliver return on investment within two years. "Now the oven is 90-100% full when cooking and you can get 50% more product out of it," said Cheeseman. However, that meant the oven was having to be loaded and emptied more quickly, requiring further changes.
The success of the project has cemented the relationship between Fosters and CenFRA, which is now working together on a similar automation project with another baker in Barnsley.
"Fosters Bakery has come a long way since Emily Foster started the business as a transport café in 1952," said Michael Taylor, Fosters' operations director.
"We have always been forward thinking. And our willingness to integrate new technologies into this artisan industry has resulted in a significant increase in our levels of productivity and clearly shows the value of investing in automation."