Unlocking Efficiency and Sustainability in F&B through Digitalisation
17/01/2025 Schneider Electric UK Ltd
In today's competitive Food & Beverage (F&B) industry, manufacturers can adapt their processes through digital transformation to achieve their sustainability goals, maximise efficiency and meet regulatory standards.
As a rapidly increasing global population drives demand, and industry is put under pressure to become Net Zero by 2050, F&B facilities can use robots, cobots and AI solutions to revolutionise production. Many firms are already doing just that, there’s been a 35% increase in robot and automation sales in the food industry since 2019 in the UK alone, with a recognisable global interest in investment too. Integrating smart machines and robotics into F&B and production offers greater precision and consistency during the manufacturing process. In high-care areas, where products need the greatest protection from contamination, robots can minimise human contact and remove risks in order to maintain efficiency and ensure no batch is lost due to human error.
Adding robots and cobots into existing facilities makes integration a key consideration for any solution. This extends to assets from multiple vendors and software platforms. It’s now possible to use a connected software to integrate these robotics into pre-existing production lines and enable operators to remotely monitor machine performance, execute preventative maintenance and track efficiency levels. Automation platforms have the potential to save up to 30% energy and lower machine downtime by 50%.
For F&B lines that already integrate robotics, the key to unlocking the next generation of hyper-efficient systems is access and control over plant operational data at all levels. By using digital tools such as EcoStruXure Automation Expert (EAE) manufacturers can integrate the upstream and downstream value chain to gain end-to-end visibility and traceability. Robust shareable data enables operators to reach an Industry 4.0 level of business intelligence whilst also ensuring maximum energy efficiency.
More and more, manufacturers are finding that consumers are making buying decisions based on environmental credentials and this is creating opportunities in F&B. According to the British Research Consortium, food manufacturing is one of the most energy-intensive industries globally, with energy costs making up approximately 15% of total operational expenses for many food manufacturers. Processing and refrigeration as well as packaging and distribution account for a large a portion of this energy usage. Not only will the shift to digitalisation protect quality and safety standards, but it will also improve energy efficiency, reducing expenses and enabling companies to meet the changing customer demands.
However, the changes within this sector are not just driven by a desire to cater to buyer priorities. In fact, F&B facilities have no choice but to turn to digitalisation. To meet the newly announced UK target of an 81% cut in emissions by 2035, the route towards Net Zero begins by understanding a facility’s current energy usage, consumption and cost. Effective energy modelling solutions, for example through the installation of an energy management system (EMS), will help identify and drive energy, cost and carbon savings. Within a F&B facility, an EMS enables companies to identify inefficiencies and streamline energy reporting, leading to automatic data collection and analysis without compromising on product quality.
The F&B sector already has access to the necessary tools needed to enhance its sustainability and energy efficiency. With the use of digitalisation, reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint will help operators to align with industry-wide sustainability goals on the road to net zero. Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert provides edge control for connected products and real time data monitoring. Solutions like this will empower the industry to overcome rising costs, achieve next-generation efficiency, and create a resilient supply chain. Find out more about Digitalisation in Food & Beverage industry here.
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