Food Engineering logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • MEDIA
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest Headlines
  • Manufacturing News
  • People & Industry News
  • Plant Openings
  • Recalls
  • Regulatory Watch
  • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
  • New Plant Products
  • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
  • Alternative Protein
  • Automation
  • Cannabis
  • Cleaning | Sanitation
  • Fabulous Food Plants
  • Food Safety
  • Maintenance Strategies
  • OEE
  • Packaging
  • Sustainability
  • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Plant Construction Survey
  • Plant of the Year
  • Sustainable Plant of the Year
  • State of Food Manufacturing
  • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • White Papers
  • EVENTS
  • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
  • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
  • eNewsletter
  • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • FE Store
  • Government Links
  • Industry Associations
  • Market Research
  • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issue
  • Advertise
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
AutomationPackagingLatest headlinesManufacturing News

Automated Mobile Robots

How AMRs Move CPG Manufacturers into the Next Phase of Factory Automation

By Armando Gonzalez, North American business leader for AMR/Robotics
A person standing in from of a Rexroth brand autonomous mobile robot.

Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth

A 2D rendered image of stacked boxes on a Rexroth autonomous mobile robot.
A 2D rendered image of stacked boxes on a Rexroth autonomous mobile robot.

Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth

A person standing in from of a Rexroth brand autonomous mobile robot.
A 2D rendered image of stacked boxes on a Rexroth autonomous mobile robot.
May 10, 2023

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are here to help revitalize the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry and help humans move their operations into the next phase of factory automation. As the industry enters this critical next stage of production efficiency, it’s urgent to remember that humans remain the key to making mobile robots successful in manufacturing facilities, warehouses and distribution centers. 

The adoption of mobile robotics is just starting—with the manufacturing industry at a 10% adoption rate. Especially in tightly margined industries like CPG, industry leaders are looking into mobile robotics technology to evaluate how it can benefit their current workforce, improve their production processes and help them expand their operations. Preparing production workflows for the introduction of robots is critical for advancing automated operations and helping ensure successful workflows. As mobile robotics shows its benefits and more manufacturing leaders start moving towards implementing fleets, the adoption rate for mobile robotics in CPG manufacturing workflows will likely start to increase. 


How Autonomous Mobile Robots Benefit CPG Production 

Safety is, and always will be, a major concern within manufacturers across industries, including CPG. Improving worker safety is the one of largest benefits AMRs provide for its user. For example, there were at least 80 fatalities associated with forklift usage in 2020. In just one year, it’s estimated there are approximately 7,000 accidents reported in a facility. Safety initiatives are paramount to not only keeping the workforce protected but to keeping production steady and competitive with the market. AMRs can eliminate historically dangerous equipment such as forklifts that simply need to carry large payloads, such as pallets of the finished product, from one end of a facility to another, allowing the driver to work on higher-value tasks while keeping processes flowing smoothly. 

AMRs also play a large role in reducing strenuous activities and repetitive tasks from human workers during material handling workflows. This is critical for helping CPG leaders to redirect their labor pool to spend their time on value-add tasks that robotics can’t complete. Especially in industries with tighter labor markets, if a worker needs to maximize their time during a shift, mobile robots can take on those repetitive mundane tasks. Even if it’s just a 5-minute session to walk across the warehouse, that time can add up quickly throughout a single shift. This is where AMRS can help eliminate wasted worker time, and when multiplied over shifts, CPG companies can experience some good productivity gains.


CPG Companies Gain Competitive Advantage with Autonomous Mobile Robots 

CPG companies are always looking for more innovative ways to get more out of their production process to meet aggressive throughputs and keep up with industry demands. This challenge isn’t exclusive to Fortune 500 companies—even smaller family-owned operations are exploring new technology to help them fulfill contracts competitively.  And, especially with a competitive labor market, they’re looking to advanced technology to help augment some of the worker tasks on a day-to-day basis.

Integrating AMRs into workflows is an excellent fit because they are designed to help improve material movement efficiency and worker safety in intralogistics applications, without additional infrastructure. A mobile robot with a compact design will be the ideal fit for CPG applications, allowing it to navigate the tight spaces that often challenge CPG warehouses. 


Integrate Autonomous Mobile Robots into Cohesive CPG Factory Automation Workflows 

Imagine this scenario—you’re a CPG company that wants to automate multiple stages of your production process. You’ve set up a workflow so that the product travels down a pallet-based conveyor line built on an aluminum framing base, powered by automated drives and controls and outfitted with Cartesian robots for handling the product as it moves through the various stages of the production line. Once the product has completed one automated workflow, it will need to be transferred to the next. Rather than a worker running a product back and forth throughout the day, an AMR can be integrated into the workflow to keep processes running smoothly. 

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that an AMR is most effective for CPG companies when it integrates into a comprehensive factory automation system. Autonomous mobile robots, such as the MP1000R, complement other key factory automation solutions including conveyors, aluminum framing, linear motion systems, and more. It’s not just an AMR. It’s one component of a complete automation ecosystem that is engineered for maximum productivity.
KEYWORDS: CPG robotics workforce

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Gonzalez armando headshot

Armando Gonzalez joined Bosch Rexroth in 2021 and is the North American business leader for AMR/Robotics. He’s been in industrial automation for almost 20 years, working with robots for over 16 of those years. Armando currently resides in Dallas, TX, and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. In his time off, he’s enjoying the outdoors with his two boys or teaching them about technology.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Food Safety
    By: Richard F. Stier
close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Loader

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

More Videos

Popular Stories

Conagra Logo

Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee Brand to Hometown Food Company

Salt

FDA to Amend Standards of Identity to Include Salt Substitutes

Vilter IHP in plant

Industrial Heat Pumps: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Now and the Future

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 5, 2025

Mass Customization Driving Innovation in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry is at the nexus of transformative global manufacturing trends, driving a shift toward personalized, customer-centric solutions. 

June 5, 2025

How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • The cover of the Horizons: Digital Age of Food Manufacturing report

    Survey Finds in Next Three Years, Majority of F+B Manufacturers will Reach Highest Level of Digital Maturity

    See More
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic is changing CPG production

    How the COVID-19 pandemic is changing CPG production

    See More
  • packaging robots

    How Small Manufacturers are Building a Business Case for Robotics

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • June 5, 2025

    How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

    Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 
View AllSubmit An Event
×
Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth
A 2D rendered image of stacked boxes on a Rexroth autonomous mobile robot.Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth | A 2D rendered image of stacked boxes on a Rexroth autonomous mobile robot.

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!