published on 06/02/12
Conveyor systems are part of logistics for food manufacturers as they ramp up production to meet new increasing demand. They will encounter specific hurdles now as they move out of recession particularly in the areas of food safety, cost-efficiency and maximizing the potential of their facilities. They can overcome many of the hurdles by bringing together their processing and packaging teams and streamlining operations.
PMMI’s newest market study, Food Processing Machinery Market Assessment, indicates that 60% of respondent, a group that included food manufacturers and customers as well as machinery and materials supplier, named frozen foods as the fastest-growing segment. Several respondents noted unexpected growth in canned foods, an anomaly stemming from the cost-effectiveness of this packaging type.
Streamlining machinery interactions using Conveyor Systems is a necessary step in this transition; as a result, processing and packaging professionals need to communicate with each other, to understand each others roles in the manufacturing process. A mutual understanding of goals and pain points will foster more effective solutions to the big-picture challenges they face together.
One way to meet these challenges is to bring in specialist such as Outsource Engineering services who can be flexible in the full project management from complete factory relocation, new equipment, redesigned equipment, and packaging line modifications. The flexibility is that the Outsource Engineers can work on large or small projects with a bespoke company solution. They combine the technical expertise together with a clear communication brief, benefiting any companies operation, without it taking the valuable time from existing engineering responsibilities on within a company.
The processing and packaging communities also share a need for customized equipment. According to the survey, 20–25% of equipment sold to food processors is made to order for specific facilities and customers. This level of customization allows food manufacturers to: increase efficiency; more easily adopt new materials, sizes and formats; ensure a smooth fit with existing equipment; accommodate proprietary processes. Outsource engineering specialist can assist companies achieve these higher levels of customisation, without detracting from onsite engineering competencies
Paula Feldman, Director of Business Intelligence, PMMI
Read the full article at Food & Beverage Packaging