Aside from fruits and vegetables, every food product you use comes in some form of packaging. This packing is done with an automated food packaging machine, regardless of the food type. There is no doubt that the food industry is one of the fastest-growing industries of all time. This necessitates a wide range of responsibilities, from increasing food production speed to maintaining consistently high food quality.
Because of the fierce competition and razor-thin margins in the food industry, a company’s components must act in coordination. You’ll need skilled labor, the right equipment, strict quality control, an appealing brand, and effective management practices. You must also follow the numerous regulations and laws governing safe food production and handling.
Importance of automation in food packaging
The use of robotics for food material handling in the packaging process is an example of automation in the food packaging process. Previously, there was a manual process for food items in packaging facilities. For example, using human workers to pick and place food items from one location to another.
Efficiency, scalability, and quality control can all benefit from automation. Despite the fact that computerization is becoming more common in various industries. Some in the food industry remain skeptical due to the hands-on approach with which they are familiar and have built their brands.
However, most food packaging facilities now employ complex machines throughout the food packaging assembly line. There are numerous advantages to using automation equipment. Here are some advantages of using automation in the food industry.
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Improved food safety
Food safety concerns are growing dramatically year after year. According to research, nearly one out of every ten people worldwide become ill as a result of consuming contaminated food. Worryingly, approximately 420 000 of them die each year from the same cause.
Automated industrial robots improve workplace safety and protection, reducing worker injury. For example, instead of manual labor, automated systems can process and package meat products. This prevents injury from sharp knives.
Installation of automated food packaging machines is in a single location, reducing the risk of bacteria spreading from other locations. Of course, if cleaning these machines is not proper, there are still some minor risks of cross-contamination. However, if all necessary hygiene measures are in place, the risks will be lower significantly.
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Standardize quality control
There are many moving parts in the food industry, and automation can make them work better together. There are numerous touchpoints in the supply, manufacturing, and distribution processes. As a result, adequate quality monitoring is necessary at each stage of the process.
This challenge is especially important because food companies use quality to differentiate themselves from the competition. It becomes easier to detect problems earlier in the supply or production processes with the right automation systems and food processing equipment.
The use of automated equipment facilitates the standardization of the food production process. From start to finish, every single product goes through the same procedures. Machines are precise, which helps to keep everything standard in a way that humans find difficult to achieve. With automation, quality becomes repeatable from one sample to the next, and successful quality control becomes a realistic goal.
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Offers flexibility
Manufacturers can customize the performance and output of automated food packaging robots. The food industry is prone to rapid change. Automation enables food businesses to be more agile and adaptable to change.
Perhaps more importantly, automated systems are simple to expand and contract. If you require more products due to increased demand during a particular season, simply adjust your systems. The ability to quickly adjust output can help you produce more or less without affecting the number of people you employ. Automation can thus help to preserve jobs by preventing employees from losing their jobs during periods of low production.
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Low operation and reduced labor costs
In comparison to manual food packaging, an automated food packaging factory must bear lower operating costs. Companies can significantly reduce costs by implementing automated food packaging systems in their factories.
This is because machines in an automated factory only require electricity and have negligible other operating costs, making them cost-effective. Companies are not displacing people by automating these processes with packaging machines. They’re simply making the job easier in other words.
All you have to do with these machines is introduce them to your team of workers and teach them how to use them. It’s also much easier to teach new workers how to operate the machine when your team members change. rather than teaching newcomers all of the manual techniques.
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Higher production rate
When it comes to the need to speed up the manufacturing process or produce larger quantities of the product. Rather than hiring more workers, an automated packaging system is a better solution.
Automated systems and robots have several significant advantages over traditional food processing methods. Food packaging robots, for example, are capable of repeating a single task with little or no variation in precision. Unlike human laborers, these machines never tire, allowing for a constant rate of work.
Because the products are packed by machines, there is no room for human error. Every product will be virtually identical in terms of dimensions, weight, and visual appearance. As a result, quality assurance is crucial for companies that produce and package food.
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Improved traceability
One of the most significant advantages of automation is traceability. The entire production line is traceable from start to finish with automated food packaging. Automated tracing systems monitor and track foods with little to no human intervention. As a result, it’s simple to see what’s going on at any point along with the supply, manufacturing, and delivery chains.
By sorting out inefficiencies and additional costs, data from tracking software can also help you improve supply chain management. Quality automation software can even help you spot potential problems before they happen in some cases. Compliance with regulations requires traceability as well. You can collect the information you need to prove compliance with the right data collection system.
Conclusion
To conclude, the main concern of this topic is to illuminate the top reasons for having automation in food processing and packaging. Food packaging automation is no longer a trend; it has become the norm. There are various types of food packaging materials available on the market, including plastic packaging, tinplate food packaging, and basket packaging. The food industry is becoming more profitable and novel as a result of the invention of automated packaging machines and equipment. If you are looking to make your food industry or factory productive, you must install automated food packaging equipment.
