OAL News
OAL to speak at Lincoln International Business School Industry 4.0 Event
The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Robotics, Productivity and Skills: Are you Industry 4.0 ready?
We’re very excited to announce we'll be speaking at the Lincoln International Business School’s event in partnership with InvestSK. The event is taking place on Thursday 28th June at the Council Chambers, Grantham and will focus on the impact of Industry 4.0.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Robotics, Productivity and Skills: Are you Industry 4.0 ready?”
Samantha Norman speaking about robotics
The event brings together business leaders from the engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors to give greater insight into how Industry 4.0 will impact performance, business growth and the types of skills requirements in the industry today.
Sam Norman, HR Director and Jake Norman, Head of Innovation at OAL will be focusing specifically on the food manufacturing industry and how APRIL Robotics can help overcome manufacturing challenges including the increase in labour costs, decrease in productivity, lack of flexibility and the increasing cost of raw materials. You'll also get to find out more from Sam and Jake how we are working with our partners to lead the robotic revolution in ingredient handling and processing to help make the UK the global market leader for robotic food processing.
Alongside our presentation, the day will investigate the following questions:
HOW prepared are you and your business for an uncertain and surprising future?
WHAT does it mean to be human in the context of the future of work?
HOW do we build and lead organisations in an Industry 4.0 world?
WHAT does firm success look like, how does it occur in South Kesteven today, and how will that change?
WHAT do leaders do in this emerging context — mindset, power and authority, collaboration, team?
APRIL™ Robotics inspires food revolution at FM2030
How many robots prepare and cook food in your factory? Food robotics in food manufacturing is an area set for major growth over the next few years as manufacturers tackle the perfect storm driven by the increase in labour costs and the decrease of productivity.
How many robots prepare and cook food in your facility? Robotics in food manufacturing is an area set for major growth over the next few years as manufacturers tackle the perfect storm driven by the increase in labour costs and the decrease of productivity.
At our Food Manufacturing 2030 conference last month, we inspired over 30 food businesses to start taking action by getting them to experience first-hand the future of food manufacturing. The day was held at the National Centre of Food Manufacturing, part of the University of Lincoln and in partnership with ABB Robotics.
Attendees learned how the use of robotics and automation can overcome their manufacturing challenges with the combination of expert guest speakers and live demonstrations of our technologies.
By adopting this approach, the UK will be leading the way in the food robotics revolution bringing with it higher skilled jobs, fantastic export opportunities and sustainability within the industry.
Breathtaking demonstrations
Our APRIL™ Robotics Flexible Food Manufacturing platform demonstrated the use of digital technologies putting robotics at the heart of food processing allowing end to end handling and processing of food ingredients with minimal human interventions. These applications included cooking, weighing and use of artificial intelligence systems for validation.
Expert guest speakers
On top of that, to inspire action and to reiterate the possibilities this revolution will bring about, we invited our guest speakers to present their success stories including:
Chris Brett from Ocado technology shared how they were transforming food retailing with digital technologies.
Steve Sanders explained how JSP Safety Products had transformed its manufacturing processes with over 30 robots, onshoring jobs to the UK.
Mike Wilson from ABB discussed robot adoption best practices.
“This is something that we need to do now! The day has opened our eyes to what is around and available.”
What's next?
We hold annual events and conferences so keep checking back at our events page for information about our next session. If you can’t wait until then, get in touch with our expert consultants today and we can arrange a demo day for you and your colleagues so you can start your robotic and automation journey today.
Thanks to everyone for coming - we look forward to starting you robotic and automation journey with you.
APRIL™ Robotics Features in BDO’s Food & Drink Industry Report 2018
We’re very proud to feature in BDO’s Food and Drink Industry Report 2018 published to encourage the industry to move towards a more productive, post-brexit world.
Our APRIL™ Robotics food manufacturing system is highlighted as a case study in BDO’s Food and Drink Industry Report 2018. The report is published to encourage the industry to move towards a more productive, post-Brexit world.
It also explains how over the next few years food manufacturers need to make a pivotal point decision:
Option 1 - stick with the status quo & absorb costs
Effectively, ride out the storm (increasing labour and ingredient costs) with existing technologies. Maintain competitive whilst absorbing potential cost increases.
Option 2 - automate & proactively future-proof factories
Invest in automation and create a step change in food manufacturing capabilities to overcome rising labour costs.
The report highlights that for businesses who rise to the automation challenge, the falling cost and increased functionality of robotics offer quick productivity gains and an ability to exploit new market opportunities.
At OAL, we firmly believe in Option 2 and would love to help you on your journey towards a fully automated, robotic factory to boost productivity and profitability.
How to become the global leader in robotic food processing - Roythornes Food Business Breakfast
The UK will be the global market leader for robotic food processing. At the recent Roythornes Food Business Breakfast, Samantha Norman (BEng) shared how OAL is working with academia, our customers and the supply chain to make this vision a reality.
The UK will be the global market leader for robotic food processing. At the recent Roythornes' Food Business Breakfast, Samantha Norman shared how OAL is working with academia, customers and the supply chain to make this vision a reality.
Number 1 in robotic food processing
It sounds good, doesn’t it?
The UK food industry is widely recognised as the global leader in convenience food and innovation but our ability to embrace automation, digital and robotics is critical to ensuring our leadership. It's this leadership that will ensure strong exports and create new jobs in the largest UK manufacturing industry.
We must work together as a supply chain to realise this vision.
Samantha shared how OAL are working with our partners to lead the robotic revolution in ingredient handling and processing. Over 150 delegates from across the supply chain caught a glimpse of this future with a live demonstration of our APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling System.
Rather than a person handling and weighing out ingredients by hand, APRIL automates the task!
Roythornes Food Business Breakfast
Roythornes Solicitors’ bi-annual business breakfasts invites food and drink industry professionals from a multitude of backgrounds to network; sparking discussion, debate and a collaborative approach to driving improvements in the food and drink industry.
“Our Food Business Breakfast has become a key staple in the networking calendar for business professionals based in both Peterborough and other areas of the UK.
Improved efficiency, reduced labour costs and reliability are all potential benefits to implementing robotics, and Sam offered an interesting perspective on what this actually means in practice, exploring the use of robots in the sector and how the industry needs to work collaboratively in order to stay flexible and compete with organisations within Europe and across the world.”
Join the robotics revolution!
New racing season dates released
With the 2018 racing season nearly upon us, OAL is excited to be sponsoring their very own Dan Nemati once again in his No Limits Racing competition!
With the 2018 racing season nearly upon us, OAL is excited to be sponsoring their very own Dan Nemati once again in his No Limits Racing competition! After coming third in the 2017 season in his Pre Injection 600, we're hoping that 2018 will be his winning year!
Dan, a Support Engineer for OAL Connected has been committed to racing for three years and is now in the No Limits Pre Injection 600 category racing with a Yamaha R6.
The races he will be competing in are as follows:
March 24-25 – Round 1: Snetterton 300.
April 21-22 – Round 2: Cadwell Park.
May 19-20 – Round 3: Donnington Park.
July 14-15 – Round 5: Croft.
July 28 – 8 Hour Endurance.
August 10-11 – Round 6: Oulton Park (Friday and Saturday event).
September 1-2 – Round 7: Cadwell Park.
October 6-7 – Round 8: Donnington Park.
If you or your colleagues wish to attend to support Dan in his racing, please get in touch here. It would be great to see as many people there as possible.
Dan would also like to take this opportunity to thank all who supported him in 2017.
