At the recent PACK EXPO, findings from PMMI’s automation study were revealed, and they show a fragmented picture of where the industry is in terms of automation.
In looking at raw data, it seems as if there is no rhyme or reason as to who is adopting advanced automation. Some larger companies are definitely incorporating it into their operations, but not all are investing in new technology, yet. On the other side of the spectrum, some smaller companies, not typically seen as early adopters, are diving in deep. One example is Riverside Foods, which, in its very first step into automation, commissioned Bosch to install a fully automated line that cuts, conveys and packages its granola bars.