Semi-Automated Pastry Packaging Reduces Cost, Increases Output
Bread and pastry make up a significant portion of the UK’s household dietary intake. This translates into a market worth around £6 billion per year in manufacturer sales. However, with challenges still to face with rising energy costs, increasing regulations and supply chain delays, streamlining is crucial to keep the bottom line in sight.
Packaging processes within the sector are historically manually oriented in the UK. Now, with a need to reduce costs, accelerate production and meet higher health standards, production lines are adopting more automation.
Making a shift from manual packaging processes
All over the country, food packaging lines are turning to automation to fully embrace the opportunities that sector growth is offering businesses of all sizes. Most, however, want to retain the quality and control that a manual, on-demand line gives them.
Many brands produce a wide array of bread and pastry products, most delicate in nature. Pastry products of different shapes and sizes have traditionally needed a wider variety of packaging, and this has also been managed manually for many years.
Because some packaging machines often require a changeover of parts to accommodate different packaging, the impact of downtime has always been considered. However today, many semi-automated packaging machines offer a new approach. Pastry packaging lines are now finding a way to retain quality control, speed output, and minimise downtime and resources.
Health and hygiene compliance
Any sector of the food industry comes under understandably close scrutiny in terms of health and hygiene. During the last few years, standards and regulations have been frequently updated to keep products, consumers and workforces protected.
Automation in food production, product transfer, and across the packaging line offers the ability to meet regulatory requirements. It reduces human contact and the risk of external contamination yet improves consistency and quality control. It can also offer the opportunity to further protect the workforce and extend shift patterns. This further increases efficiency and reduces the number of people on the ground at any given time.
UK Pastry Packaging Case Study
A large UK pastry company had worked with manual packaging processes for years. They wanted to increase production but wanted to retain the quality and user control that manual packaging offered them.
Looking to automate pastry packaging, the client came to the Jacob White development team for advice. They wanted to reduce operational costs and the reliance on manual resources and training. Their solution needed to be seamlessly compliant, so minimal human intervention was a top priority.
Our recommendation
Jacob White takes the time to work closely with our clients so that we gain maximum insights into existing processes. Then, we tailor our machines to fit those needs. For this client, we recommended the RSB-3 – a solution that suited both their needs and their budget. This was designed to speed up production and reduce the reliance on a manual packaging line.
About Jacob White Case Studies
Jacob White's case studies showcase and highlight the benefits of our packaging machines in real situations and working environments. We also hope that they demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the best possible solutions for our clients around the world.
