Video debate: Busting myths about food robotics

Too many food and drink manufacturers believe automation is expensive to install and delivers only higher throughput, according to Mike Wilson, director of the Automation and Advisory Service and Alan Spreckley, channel manager for automation supplier ABB Robotics.

In reality, robotics can also improve the consistency of operations, lift hygiene standards while reducing damaged goods and improving energy efficiencies, they said.

Honeytop Speciality Foods​

This video debate, charts the benefits of introducing robotics in food and drink manufacturing, identifies what brakes their progress and highlights success stories involving firms such as bakery business Honeytop Speciality Foods.

It also explains how to benefit from the £600,000 of government money available to help manufacturing firms install automation.

Filmed at the Foodex Show at the NEC, Birmingham last month, this is the second of a two-part series on automation in the food and drink industry. To watch part one, click here​.

For our exclusive video interview with agriculture minister Jim Paice about food and drink exports filmed at Foodex, click here​.

To watch our video interview with Terry Jones, communications director of the Food and Drink Federation, explaining how the industry is reaching out to attract new recruits, click here​.