OAL News
OAL secures £5 million Innovation Loan to tackle 100,000 labour gap in food manufacturing
Leading robotics and automation specialist, OAL, has secured a £5 million Innovation Loan from Innovate UK to deploy over 1,000 robotic systems in the food manufacturing industry by 2030 to address labour shortages.
The five-year programme will support the commercial rollout of fenceless robotics: compact robotic systems designed to operate safely alongside people on production lines without traditional caging.
The UK food manufacturing sector currently employs more than 430,000 people, with many roles involving repetitive manual handling tasks for which manufacturers increasingly struggle to recruit and retain staff. Industry estimates suggest there are more than 100,000 roles that manufacturers struggle to fill consistently.
Despite these pressures, food factories remain significantly less automated than many other industries, in part because traditional industrial robots are often too large, complex or difficult to integrate into existing space-constrained production environments.
OAL’s fenceless robotics technology enables manufacturers to retrofit these systems directly on to existing production lines without major changes to factory layouts. By automating repetitive tasks such as pick and place handling and palletising, manufacturers will boost efficiency, accuracy and safety, while allowing operators to focus on higher value work.
Jake Norman, Managing Director, OAL, said: "Labour remains one of the biggest structural challenges in food manufacturing, yet traditional automation is often too large or inflexible to adapt to changing demands – be they consumer- or retailer-led.
“Fenceless robotics addresses this head on. We can rapidly deploy robots into space-constrained environments to automate pick and place and palletising tasks. This transformational technology gives manufacturers a real competitive advantage and reduces their exposure to labour shortages. We’re thrilled to secure the support of Innovate UK to accelerate this vital project.”
Jonathan Walker, Innovation Lead, Innovate UK, added, “In industries like food processing robotics and automation can increase productivity by filling vacancies rather than replacing jobs. The conditions are generally unpleasant for people to work in due to temperature, hygiene requirements and repetitive tasks but well suited to a properly designed robot. It is great to see UK companies innovating in this space and I’m pleased that Innovate UK are able to support.”
The project will support the creation of more than 100 new roles across engineering, software development, systems integration and technical sales at OAL. The company will also launch a structured apprenticeship programme based at its Peterborough headquarters, supporting the development of future automation engineers and technicians.
OAL has been developing robotics for food manufacturing since 2016, with systems already deployed in factories across the UK and Europe, including Domino’s Pizza, Solina and Agrana Group.
About the Innovate UK Innovation Loans programme
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. We work to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations.
With an annual budget of over £1billion we provide businesses with the expertise, facilities and funding they need to test, demonstrate and evolve their ideas, driving UK productivity and economic growth.
Innovate UK’s Innovation Loans provides affordable, non-dilutive loan finance to innovative UK SMEs undertaking later-stage research and development.
Find out more at https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk and https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/innovation-loans/
OAL strengthens machine safety credentials with CMSE® certification
OAL, a market leader in automation, robotics and vision inspection for the food manufacturing sector, has announced that its Technology Director, Mike O’Sullivan, has achieved CMSE® – Certified Machinery Safety Expert (TÜV NORD) certification.
The internationally recognised accreditation covers all aspects of machinery safety, from risk assessment and safety-related control systems to compliance with current machinery directives and standards.
Why machine safety matters in food manufacturing
For food manufacturers, machine safety is not just a compliance requirement; it is directly linked to operational risk and business continuity. A safety failure can stop a production line instantly, impact output targets and, in the worst cases, put people at risk. At the same time, systems must operate within strict hygiene and space constraints, often alongside operators in fast-moving environments. This makes safety design more complex than in many other industries.
As more sites look to introduce robotics, particularly fenceless systems, the importance of getting safety right from the outset increases. These systems rely on safe interaction between people and machines, rather than physical separation. That means safety is built into how the system behaves, how it responds to operators and how it integrates with the wider line. For manufacturers, this is the difference between a system that works in theory and one that runs reliably in production.
O’Sullivan brings extensive experience in robotics and automation, having previously held positions at KUKA Robotics and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. At OAL, he leads the development and deployment of fenceless robotic pick and place and palletising systems designed specifically for food production, where safety, hygiene and operational efficiency must work together.
“Machinery safety isn’t an afterthought in automation. It’s the foundation. The CMSE® – Certified Machinery Safety Expert certification means we don’t just meet international safety standards, we exceed them. That matters more than ever, as our fenceless pick-and-place and palletising systems bring people and robots closer together on the factory floor.”
Machine safety shapes your automation options
If you are planning automation, especially involving robotics, machine safety will shape what is possible on your line.
It influences where equipment can be installed, how fast it can run and how operators interact with it day to day. Getting it right early avoids redesign, delays and compromise. Getting it wrong can limit performance or stop a project altogether.
“We work in environments where safety is non-negotiable. Having CMSE® – Certified Machinery Safety Expert accreditation within our senior technology team gives our customers confidence that the systems we deliver are designed to the highest safety standards from the outset.”
Start the conversation
If you are looking at automation or reviewing an existing system, it is worth understanding how machine safety will affect your application.
OAL works with food manufacturers to design and deliver systems that are safe, practical and built to perform in food factories.
The Great Exhibition 2025: celebrating British innovation in robotics
OAL demonstrated its UK-designed and engineered pick and place robot at The Great Exhibition 2025, showcasing how automation can improve safety, efficiency, and flexibility in modern food manufacturing.
We were proud to demonstrate how OAL’s robotics are helping modernise food manufacturing at The Great Exhibition 2025 in Lincoln.
The event brought together industry, defence, and government leaders to celebrate British innovation and engineering excellence.
Our fenceless pick and place robot was featured in the central celebration area, demonstrating how robotics can improve safety, productivity and flexibility in modern food production.
Designed and engineered in the UK
Designed and engineered at our Peterborough headquarters, OAL’s pick and place system combines speed, safety and adaptability in a compact footprint.
It helps food manufacturers reduce manual handling, improve efficiency, and adapt quickly to changing production needs, all without the space or safety barriers required by traditional robots.
At the exhibition, the robot ran continuously throughout the day, demonstrating how automation can operate safely alongside people on the factory floor.
The OAL team showcasing the pick and place robot at The Great Exhibition 2025 in Lincoln.
A showcase of innovation
The Great Exhibition’s Innovate, Trade, Invest theme reflected what drives us at OAL, helping manufacturers modernise food production through practical, proven automation.
Events like this highlight how British design and engineering can deliver real-world impact for manufacturers tackling labour shortages and rising demand.
Read more about the event in the BBC’s coverage of The Great Exhibition 2025.
Looking ahead
We’d like to thank the organisers, partners and visitors who came to see our system in action.
As robotics adoption accelerates, we’re continuing to grow our capabilities and expand our team to meet the increasing demand for automation in UK food manufacturing.
We’re always looking for talented engineers, technicians, and innovators to join us on this journey.
Explore our latest opportunities at OAL Careers.
If you missed us in Lincoln, we’d love to show you what’s next. Visit us in Peterborough to see our latest robotic systems at our next seminar.
OAL Connected becomes first GS1 UK Approved packaging verification platform
We’re proud to share that OAL Connected has officially received GS1 UK Approved status, making it the first packaging verification platform in the UK to achieve this certification.
This recognition confirms OAL Connected’s full compliance with GS1’s global standards and marks a major milestone for the UK food sector as it transitions toward next-generation barcoding and traceability. With major UK retailers like Tesco piloting dynamic QR codes, OAL Connected gives food manufacturers the tools to stay compliant and futureproof.
The OAL team celebrates GS1 UK approval of the Connected platform at the Peterborough HQ
Left to right: Jake Norman, Faye Louch, Phil Tokens
Raising the standard for packaging verification
The GS1 UK product approval process involved a rigorous technical review, including a live demonstration and a full assessment of documentation. OAL Connected is now certified to support:
GS1 Digital Link QR codes
GTIN, SSCC and GS1-compliant data structures
Barcode symbologies including EAN/UPC, GS1-128 and GS1 DataMatrix
As UK retailers prepare for Project Sunrise, this certification ensures our customers are ready to meet new packaging data requirements with confidence.
“We built OAL Connected to deliver robust traceability and packaging integrity across food manufacturing. To have that independently validated by GS1 UK is a proud moment for the team, and a real win for our customers.”
Why GS1 certification matters
GS1 UK Approval confirms that OAL Connected has been tested against strict global benchmarks for barcode integrity, data quality and traceability.
With this capability, manufacturers can now print GS1 Digital Link-enabled QR codes inline, embedding variable data such as expiry dates directly onto packs for retailer systems and smartphone scanning.
“We are pleased to approve OAL Connected for its alignment with GS1 standards. Their platform demonstrates the identification and barcode compliance that helps the UK food sector meet growing expectations around traceability, data quality and supply chain transparency.”
See it in action at OAL HQ
To support this rollout, we’re running live automation seminars at our Peterborough headquarters. Attendees will see OAL Connected and other automation systems in action, with a focus on how to futureproof operations for compliance, efficiency and transparency.
OAL Featured on BBC Climate Documentary: Ready Meals – What They Really Mean for You
We’re proud to announce that OAL has been featured in the BBC’s new documentary Ready Meals: What They Really Mean for You, now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
The programme explores how food production can achieve net zero, and the innovative technologies helping to do it. Our APRIL™ robotic chef and Steam Infusion technologies are featured, demonstrating automated cooking at scale while cutting energy, water, and chemical usage.
The system was developed as part of Project Souper Green - our £2 million collaboration with Solina and Marks and Spencer, part-funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator, delivered by The Carbon Trust in partnership with Jacobs and Innovate UK.
Being featured on the BBC is a proud milestone for our team and a clear signal that automation and robotic solutions have a central role to play in decarbonising food production.
Watch the episode on BBC iPlayer to see how OAL delivers practical, scalable solutions for a more sustainable future. (OAL segment at 16:35)
Want to automate your food business? Get in touch to explore what’s possible.