OAL News
Harry Norman on the launch of APRIL
Harry Norman spoke to Food Bev Magazine back in October, about the introduction of APRIL, robotic food processing. We were invited to speak about innovation at the Next Generation Manufacturing conference at Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai. Whilst at the show Darren Wood of FoodBev media caught up with OAL's Managing Director, Harry Norman, to discuss our new product.
“We are launching a new product into the market called APRIL which will revolutionise the way the front end processing of food factories is handled.”
Ready to take the next step towards the robotic revolution? Get in touch today!
APRIL™ wins Cambridge Open Innovation Food & FMCG Pitching Event
Our game-changing food processing innovation APRIL™ won over judges from Tesco, General Mills and Mars at the fourth Food & FMCG Innovation Pitching Event. The Cambridge University event took place at Food Matters Live In London, where we pitched APRIL (Automated Processing Robotic Ingredient Loading) to the esteemed group of judges. The judges recognised APRIL's ability to change the way we manufacture food by offering "chef-standard" food whilst significantly reducing production costs.
APRIL is the first of its kind and represents a step change in food processing; enabling parallel food processing and the emulation of a professional chef on an industrial scale.
APRIL will be available for demonstrations in early 2016 at our test centre at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing.
Interview on APRIL™ & Food is Life at PPMA 2015
At the PPMA Show 2015, we were interviewed about our involvement with Food is Life and APRIL™, our food processing robot. APRIL will enable food processing without any platforms or pipework in a smaller factory. Bringing together state-of-the-art technologies, she will increase capacity, significantly reduce the number of operators and produce safer, better looking, tastier foods.
Developed with the University of Lincoln at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, APRIL enables parallel food processing and can emulate a chef’s method of cooking on an industrial scale. Utilising grant funding from Innovate UK, we have put our expertise and skills into making this research concept a reality with a demonstration available early 2016.
We have been working closely with members of the Food Is Life consortium in the development of APRIL™. Food is Life firmly believes that the food industry can benefit from learning and exploiting technologies from the automotive industry to improve production and safety of food.
Transforming food processing at Gulfood Manufacturing, Dubai
We're speaking about disruptive change at the Next Generation Manufacturing Conference, part of Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 in Dubai on Tuesday 27 October at 15:30. We were approached by organisers following the launch of our revolutionary APRIL™ food processing system. APRIL uses principles from the automotive sector to link proven state-of-the-art cooking and materials handling technologies with automated robotic ingredient loading.
The talk will provide insights into how APRIL™ style systems will change both factory layouts and the flow of materials through a food processing facility. By removing the need for pipework, pumps and valves, APRIL will produce more consistent and better quality products, faster than current processes with significantly reduced ingredient wastage and energy costs, whilst taking up to 80% less factory space.
APRIL™ has been developed in partnership with a leading global robot manufacturer and the University of Lincoln, with a full-size demonstration due for installation December 2015 at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. The development has come off the back of two £1 million Innovate UK funded government projects into improving the efficiency and quality of food products. APRIL™ will integrate and enhance two existing technologies being researched under the two Innovate UK collaborative research projects into cryogenic cooling and rapid heating and mixing (Steam Infusion).
The three day show is the region's biggest food and beverage processing industry event and brings together suppliers from over 60 countries, showcasing the very latest improvements in manufacturing. The show is a popular knowledge transfer and sourcing event which allows attendees to explore solutions for potential expansion on production capacity, creating greater efficiency and much more!
APRIL™ draws the crowds at the PPMA Show 2015
i8
On the last week of September 2015 industry professionals from all around the world were enamoured by APRIL™ at the PPMA Show in Birmingham, UK. With dual presence at the show, we took the opportunity to introduce our new disruptive technology, APRIL, on the Food Is Life stand. APRIL combines proven state-of-the-art cooking and materials handling technologies with automated robotic ingredient loading, emulating a professional chef.
Food Is Life is a consortium focused on bringing disruptive change to the food industry and accordingly was the perfect setting to introduce APRIL™. The stunning BMW i8 was the perfect back drop for the launch, highlighting the knowledge transfer opportunities available between the food and automotive industry. Visitors sat in the car and were captivated by the video:
It was incredibly effective with many of the biggest names in food production stopping by to discuss their desire for step change improvements in food manufacturing. We are working closely with the University of Lincoln and Food Is Life partners to deliver Food Manufacturing 4.0 and the visitors strong reaction is a great driver to continue the pursuit of change.
Del Boy BMW i8
The three day event saw Del Boy and Joanna Lumley impersonators, an awards ceremony, countless customer meetings and chatter throughout.
OAL would like to say a massive thank you to the organisers of the PPMA and for all our customers, new and returning, for giving us the chance to introduce APRIL™ to the world.