The e-commerce revolution has not only changed the rules for consumer packaged goods companies, it has created a whole new game in which the new coronavirus has only cemented the need for brands to adapt.
Manufacturing's pioneers have shaped cutting-edge forms of product inspection technology that help processors make significant gains in food safety while enhancing efficiency. These recent strides also have manufacturers focusing on cost in alignment with capability—and niche automation markets, such as machine vision, are expected to grow even more.
As consumers demand more information about the origin and authenticity of the products they consume, farsighted brands seek to reach new levels of transparency.
In a recent food processing market research report by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, 50 percent of food manufacturers indicated that operational improvements involving automation would receive the most attention over the next three to five years.