OAL's Autocoding System helps food manufacturers eliminate packaging and coding errors through automated label verification, barcode verification and date code verification. By controlling printers, validating production data and checking every pack before it leaves the production line, OAL improves food traceability, supports retailer Code of Practice compliance and helps manufacturers achieve GS1 Sunrise compliance with confidence.
Trusted on more than 2,000 production lines, OAL combines packaging verification, automated printer control and production line coding automation into a single platform, helping food manufacturers improve quality, reduce waste and prevent costly production errors.
Autocoding Systems For Food Manufacturing
The UK standard for autocoding, packaging verification and food traceability
Protects over 2,000+ production lines
Eliminates packing errors and recalls
Avoids rework and lost retailer confidence
Integrate quickly with your existing lines
Trusted across the UK food industry
Our system is the benchmark for compliance, trusted by UK retailers
Why OAL’s Autocoding System?
Trusted by the UK’s Leading Food Manufacturers
OAL's Autocoding System combines packaging verification, automated code verification and production line control into a single platform, helping food manufacturers improve quality, traceability and retailer compliance.
Industry Standard
The UK's leading Autocoding System, trusted on more than 2,000 production lines, helping food manufacturers automate packaging verification, label verification and date code verification. Built to handle complex production environments while improving food safety, reducing waste and preventing costly production errors.
Technical Excellence
With more than 30 years' experience in food manufacturing automation, OAL delivers practical Autocoding Systems built around the real challenges faced by production, engineering and quality teams. Our solutions combine automated printer control, barcode verification and production line coding automation to improve accuracy without disrupting existing operations.
Innovation at the core
Innovation has always been part of OAL's DNA. Backed by more than £6.5 million of Innovate UK funding, we're developing the next generation of AI quality inspection, machine vision and automated code verification technologies to help manufacturers improve quality, increase efficiency and prepare for future standards such as GS1 Digital Link.
Seamless System Integration
OAL integrates with your existing printers, scanners, vision systems, ERP, MES and production line equipment to deliver simple, automated coding and marking without replacing your current infrastructure. The result is faster changeovers, fewer manual checks and complete production line traceability.
Always-on Support
Production doesn't stop, and neither do we. Our UK-based team of specialist engineers provides 24/7, 365-day support, helping manufacturers minimise production downtime and keep business-critical coding, marking and verification systems running at peak performance.
Retailer Code of Practice Compliance
OAL helps food manufacturers meet retailer Code of Practice requirements through automated packaging verification, barcode verification, digital audit trails and complete food traceability. Certified by GS1 UK and trusted by major retailers including M&S, our systems simplify compliance while reducing the risk of product recalls, packaging errors and costly retailer non-conformances.
OAL protects over 2,000
food production lines.
“Without a doubt I would recommend OAL to other manufacturers […] this system is the failsafe.”
Sarah McGeehan
Group Technical Manager, Life Health Foods (M&S Supplier)
How does OAL’s Autocoding System work?
OAL's Autocoding System combines intelligent software and robust hardware to automate printer setup, packaging verification, label verification and barcode verification across every production line. By eliminating date code and labelling errors before they cause problems, manufacturers improve food traceability, reduce waste and support retailer Code of Practice compliance.
Step-by-step operation:
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The operator selects the product or works order on the OAL Line Terminal (touchscreen). With one click, the system automatically configures the entire packaging line.
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The system pulls data from the Master Product Database (MPD) to automatically configure all printers with the correct date code, based on your P+ rules. Additional fields such as grower, country of origin, and batch codes are also applied automatically, supporting food factory coding while removing the risk of manual input errors.
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Integrated cameras scan and verify 1D and 2D barcodes to confirm they match the selected job. This barcode verification process prevents packaging mix-ups and supports traceability for all packaging components, including pots, lids, sleeves and labels. It also supports manufacturers preparing for GS1 Digital Link verification.
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The system uses AI quality inspection to check printed information such as date codes, allergen declarations, promotional flashes and label presence or position, catching errors that barcode verification alone cannot detect. It can also support automated quality inspection by checking product quality, identifying issues such as missing sachets or visible defects in the food product itself.
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Operators complete start-up, end-of-run and interval quality checks, typically every 30 minutes, using a handheld camera. All checks are recorded digitally, creating an audit-ready record that supports retailer Code of Practice compliance, food safety automation and paperless quality assurance.
100% Continuous Label Verification
Every pack is scanned and verified. A camera is mounted to the line to scan packaging barcodes and verify against the running job.
Multiple barcode cameras are mounted on the line to scan all elements for products with multiple packaging elements (pot, lid, sleeve).
Right date code
Automatic printer set-up and 100% print inspection.
Save time each changeover and prevent human input errors on printers by automating the setup and monitoring of your printers.
Ensure 100% date coding confidence by verifying the date code printed on every pack with APRIL Eye.
The OAL system automatically sets up the printers to print the correct date code for the works order/job you’re running.
Stop human errors: Operators no longer set up printers. The OAL system automatically sets up all printers (primary and secondary) to print the date code for the running job
Brand agnostic: The OAL system works with all printer brands.
Fault and alarm detection: If the printer enters a fault state, the OAL system detects the errors, stops the line and forces a redownload of date code information.
Save time: Operators can be reassigned to other activities as they no longer set up printers.
Trusted by leading UK food manufacturers
OAL already supports automation and quality assurance across more than 2,000 production lines in the UK food industry.
“OAL’s systems massively helped us to increase efficiency on the production line, increasing capacity by 50%.”
Pete Youé
Operations Director, Illchester Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions you might have.
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OAL’s Autocoding System is the UK benchmark for packaging and date code verification. Trusted on over 2,000 production lines, it prevents mislabelling, coding errors, and costly product recalls by automating printer setup and verifying every pack.
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By taking control of your packaging line. The system automatically sets up printers with the correct job data, locks down settings, and verifies that packaging matches the job selected. This ensures your line runs in full compliance with retailer Codes of Practice and removes the risk of human error. For more detail, see our M&S compliance webinar.
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There isn’t a single price point — it depends on your line setup, compliance requirements, and optional modules such as AI vision or Line Monitoring. To help plan budgets, we’ve written a detailed guide — read the cost article here.
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Prevents costly recalls and rework
Guarantees compliance with retailer codes of practice (GS1 UK certified)
Automates date coding and label checks, reducing human error
Saves operator time at changeovers
Provides 24/7 UK-based support
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Yes. Beyond barcode checks, AI vision can detect missing date codes, incorrect promotional flashes, label position issues and product-quality defects such as missing sachets.
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The process is simple and fully automated:
Operators select the job on the OAL Line Terminal.
Printers are configured automatically with the correct date code and product data.
Integrated cameras check barcodes and packaging components against the job.
AI vision inspects date codes and product quality.
Digital QA replaces paper checks, ensuring audit-ready compliance.
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Yes. By adding the Line Monitoring module, you can capture OEE, downtime, and other key performance metrics. Dashboards and reports help you track efficiency and ROI.
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Our robots footprint is just 0.1m². That makes them ideal for sites with tight production footprints.
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Very little. We retrofit our cameras and line terminals onto your existing equipment, so no major floor space is required. The system is designed to fit around your current line without the need for large enclosures or extra footprint.
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Most customers see ROI within 10–18 months, depending on line speed, labour savings, and operational complexity. We can provide a personalised ROI estimate during your demo.
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The system instantly detects the fault, stops the line, and re-downloads the correct data to ensure no mislabelled product escapes.
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An authorised user can issue a concession to keep the line running temporarily while manual checks are performed. Once repaired, the system resumes full automation.
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Our system protects over 2,000 food production lines. We work with leading UK food manufacturers including Bakkavor, Nature’s Way Foods, Worldwide Fruit and Finnebrogue. Our systems are approved by and trusted to protect retailers such as M&S.
Ready to reduce packaging and date code risk?
Book a compliance control review with our team.
+44 1733 394700
A1 Parkway Peterborough, PE2 6YN, United Kingdom
sales@oalgroup.com
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