Automation of batch processing isn’t new, but, in fact, has been a staple of food processing for decades. However, as more companies move beyond the basics of automation, they are finding that new technology brings big rewards—as well as big challenges.
The first of those challenges is defining what automation actually means when it comes to batch processing. Much like other areas of production, the choices range from relatively simple—control systems, flow meters and automated valves—all the way up to a system that almost entirely removes operators from the equation.