‘Spot’ the robotic dog will be deployed on seven production lines across CCEP’s Wakefield and East Kilbride sites.
The tech will support the maintenance teams to monitor almost 600 inspection points across the lines, collecting real-time data on equipment status without interrupting production.
Developed by Boston Dynamics, Spot is fitted with advance sensors enabling it to capture vibration, ultrasound and thermography data, alongside visual monitoring of equipment conditions and maintenance priorities – a capability that leverages the latest AI Visual Language Models.
The robotic ‘canine’ operates autonomously along pre-programmed routes and can run for around 90 minutes before recharging and uploading collected data. Its rollout will see previously manual maintenance checks shifting to a continuous process, allowing CCEP’s engineers to identify potential issues earlier and prioritise work more effectively.
“Introducing Spot at our Wakefield and East Kilbride sites is helping us take a smarter, more proactive approach to maintenance,” said Chris Goodall, VP for customer service and supply chain at CCEP GB.
“By giving our engineers real-time insight across routine inspection points, Spot frees them up to focus their expertise where it makes the biggest difference – identifying issues earlier, improving reliability and keeping our production lines running efficiently."
Spot’s technology also supports sustainability aims by detecting air and CO₂ leaks and identifying equipment running outside optimal conditions, to help reduce overall energy consumption.
This is the first time CCEP has used such a technology in its GB operations and follows a successful pilot at the bottler’s Barcelona site. Spot has since been deployed across nine of its factories across Spain, France, Germany, Australia, Indonesia, and The Netherlands.
Spot’s UK introduction represents the next phase of CCEP’s robotics expansion programme, with the GB team building on earlier learnings to deploy the technology across its operations.
As well as helping to improve efficiencies, Spot is also driving skills development. CCEP says reliability engineers, automation specialists and apprentices have been trained to operate and programme the robots, creating opportunities for upskilling in line with its wider focus on building future capabilities.
Marco da Silva, vice president and general manager of Spot at Boston Dynamics, said: “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with CCEP to drive innovation across multiple manufacturing sites in Europe and expand into the UK.
“By utilising the latest sensors and AI Visual Language Models from Boston Dynamics, Spot provides the real-time, actionable insights needed to optimise energy efficiency and reduce unplanned breakdowns. CCEP is at the forefront of modern manufacturing, and we are proud to support them in creating safer, smarter and more efficient production lines.”
