OAL News
Kyle Constable wins Apprentice of the Year at FDF Awards 2019
We are thrilled to announce that our Technical Sales Lead for Steam Infusion, Kyle Constable, has been named as the Apprentice of the Year at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) awards 2019!
We are thrilled to announce that our Technical Sales Lead for Steam Infusion, Kyle Constable, has been named as the Apprentice of the Year at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) awards 2019! Largely seen as the industry benchmark for innovation, competitiveness and talent, the awards ceremony saw Kyle fight off tough competition to be presented with the Apprentice of the Year accolade. With over 500 guests coming together to celebrate the achievements in the industry, this award is a true testament to the hard work put in by Kyle over the course of his apprenticeship so far.
Pioneers as potential industry leaders
The FDF Apprentice of the Year is awarded to the individual who has shown exceptional progress in both their skills and studies and are real pioneers with potential to become industry leaders. Kyle has been a degree apprentice with OAL for two years now, having originally joined as a Process Development Trainee. He excelled in his position and after only 10 months was promoted to Technical Sales Lead. He is currently completing a degree in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations Management at the University of Lincoln, all while promoting our innovative Steam Infusion technology across the UK and Europe.
But it isn’t just his own personal development that is so important to Kyle. He uses all his experience to show students that there are many different ways to be successful after leaving school and takes every opportunity to encourage them to consider a career in engineering. We are really pleased for Kyle and it is great to see that all his hard work has been recognised and has truly paid off.
Want to be part of something special?
We are very proud of our employees and are always looking for new people to join our team and support our growth at OAL. If you think you might be interested in an apprenticeship like Kyle, why not visit our apprenticeships page, or get in touch today to find out more about what we can offer.
SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Apprenticeship Awards 2019
We are honoured to announce that we have won the SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019!
We are honoured to announce that we have won the SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019! The awards aim to celebrate leading apprenticeship schemes in the local area – from the apprentices themselves, to the training providers and employees that support them. We are delighted to have received the accolade as we were up against some tough competitors from a variety of industries. It’s very rewarding to see that our dedication to education and supporting our employees has been recognised by the judges.
Passionate about employees
Here at OAL we are passionate about encouraging our employees in both their personal and professional development, and often support them to complete apprenticeships and degrees while working. Currently in our company of around 65 employees, 12% are studying across multiple disciplines. We feel that this approach – working and earning a salary whilst completing valuable qualifications and developing industry knowledge – benefits both our employees and the company as learnings can be put into practice from day one.
Great facilities to aid apprenticeships
Our partnership with the University of Lincoln, who were recently named number 17 in The Guardian’s University league tables for 2020, and their satellite campus at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) in Holbeach, means that our apprentices have access to modern and innovative facilities, with the opportunity to get hands-on with experiments and trials. The NCFM, which is seen as a national exemplar for its apprenticeship provision, is home to our revolutionary Steam Infusion test centre where apprentices can get involved in the experiments and understand how the system works by experiencing one-to-one training.
Not only do our apprentices get access to the facilities of leading institutions in the UK, they also receive dedicated training from industry experts. Our passion for growth and development means we ensure apprentices get the best of both worlds, with access to great facilities with committed teachers, whilst being part of an exciting, welcoming and innovative team.
Want to know more?
Would you like to be part of an award-winning team that encourages personal and professional opportunities? We pride ourselves on our commitment to supporting the development of our teams and are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join us. Why not take a look at our latest vacancies to see if you could begin your career at OAL!
OAL boosts manufacturer productivity at PPMA 2019
OAL is sponsoring the Networking Zone for a second year running at the PPMA Total Show 2019. We’ll also be showcasing our innovative robotics and automation solutions, as well as our patented cooking technology over the course of the three days.
Stand A130 - Networking Zone, PPMA, NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom, 1-3 October 2019
OAL is sponsoring the Networking Zone for a second year running at the PPMA Total Show 2019. We’ll also be showcasing our innovative robotics and automation solutions, as well as our patented cooking technology over the course of the three days. Visiting the stand, you’ll be able to experience how the APRIL Eye artificial intelligence-based label and date code verification solution replicates human vision and learn from our experts about how our solutions can improve your productivity.
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve also been shortlisted for an award in the Outstanding Customer Service category for the excellent work that our support team puts in with our OAL Connected customers - fingers crossed we win!
Eyeing up productivity improvements
As the UK continues to deal with a productivity crisis, we are demonstrating how our solutions can support you in delivering increased outputs. APRIL Eye, the world’s first artificial intelligence-based vision system for label and date code verification, will be in action on the stand, so you can see for yourself how the technology prevents the wrong date codes from entering the supply chain while maximising throughput. Running at speeds of over 1,000 packs a minute, the system ensures full protection of your production line without compromising on volumes.
APRIL Eye combines machine learning and artificial intelligence to transform the traditional date code verification process. Rather than relying on operators to check the date code is printed correctly, APRIL Eye automates the process using basic cameras backed up with an artificial brain. This vision system can deal with variations such as lighting, positioning, print quality and placement, which are inherent in a food or beverage plant and read anything that is also legible to the naked eye. In this way, APRIL Eye eliminates errors, offers full traceability and protects consumers and brands while at the same time reducing labour costs and waste. The system also improves over time, further safeguarding your operations.
Steaming ahead
Our experts will be on hand to explain how Steam Infusion’s patented technology can double production capacity and halve CIP time in the production of soups, sauces and dairy desserts to maximise productivity. Steam Infusion is an advanced food processing technology that can heat 1,000kg of product from 15°C to 90°C in under 10 minutes with no burn-on or particulate damage. A unique form of steam injection, the patented design of the Steam Infusion Vaction™ pump uses steam as the motive force to heat, mix and pump liquids with and without particulates. High operating costs are prevented thanks to lower energy usage based on Steam Infusion’s highly efficient energy transfer as well as reduced maintenance and removal of condensate management, allowing you to further boost your bottom line.
Weighing up the benefits
If you visit our stand, you’ll also be able to try your hand at manually weighing powders accurately. Manual handling and weighing of ingredients can cost up to one per cent of your turnover. However, by automating ingredient handling and storage with the APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system, you can reduce labour costs while eliminating cross-contamination and maximising traceability and accuracy to improve productivity.
Combining robotics and advanced automation, the APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system offers a flexible and scalable solution that delivers an accurate and cost-effective alternative to operators on the factory floor. The system automatically weighs powders to an accuracy up to +/- 1g at weigh-up rates of up to 1,000kg/hr. It can also deal with a wide weighing range without any mechanical change components, reducing the risk of downtime caused by machine stoppages or breakdown. The cells have a turndown of 1,000 to 1 while maintaining the highest level of accuracy and zero product cross-contamination risk - increasing traceability and improving food safety. Offering high flexibility, the system can be easily integrated into your existing footprint.
If you missed us there but want to learn more about our systems, contact our team today!
Spotlight on a career as Project Coordinator
Sharon Proctor is a Project Coordinator working in the OAL Connected team at OAL. She lives in Peterborough with her husband Richard.
Day in the life of…
Sharon Proctor
Sharon Proctor, is an Project Coordinator working in the OAL Connected team at OAL. She lives in Peterborough with her husband Richard.
My alarm goes off…
At 6.30. We get up straight away as we have three cats who won’t let us sleep a moment longer when food is on the cards! I have breakfast with my husband and then get dressed and ready for work. Before leaving, I make us a packed lunch and then we hit the road for the short journey into work.
I’m responsible for…
Coordinating the administration for the OAL Connected team and their projects to ensure the smooth running of the whole department – I keep the team and our customers happy!
I got the job…
Originally around ten years ago. I started out as OAL’s receptionist and administration assistant, then progressing to office coordinator, a role I had for several years. Around two years ago I took on my current position in the OAL Connected team, having expressed an interest in moving into this department. When I moved to OAL Connected, I was amazed by how much I learned even though I had already been in the company for eight years!
My typical day…
Always starts by checking in with the team to make sure that everyone knows what each one of us is up to for the day; the guys are usually travelling all over the place visiting customers or carrying out support, so it’s a good way to start the day. I also double check that all arrangements have been made for those who are travelling so that no one is left stranded anywhere!
Then I start to work through ongoing projects, making sure that every aspect is accounted for to ensure accurate costs are logged and checking stock levels so that costs are controlled and we always have the right inventory for our customers.
My most memorable moment…
And the one that has had the most lasting impact on me is the fact that I met my now husband while working here! We met on my first day, had our first date a year later and then got married two years ago! (And we still work and live together very happily!)
The worst part of my job is…
Can be that we’re a team which is often subject to last minute changes! It keeps me on my toes at least!
The best part of my job is…
Getting to work with so many different people every day. The nature of the role means I need to work with every member of the OAL Connected team so it keeps my day interesting!
After work…
I like to go walking with my husband and we can usually be found hitting the pavements wherever we need to go (distance permitting!) We have also recently discovered our love of cruising as it’s a great way to explore many cities in one holiday so we always like to be planning our next adventure! And of course, we spend a lot of time pampering our three truly spoiled cats!
Interested in a career at OAL? We have a range of roles available and are always looking for talented individuals to join the team!
Work experience in summer 2019
In support of World Youth Skills Day (a UN initiative) on 15 July 2019, we thought we’d hear from two school students who have spent time with us and how OAL helps to inspire the next generation into the world of engineering.
At OAL, you can usually find a school or university student somewhere around the business experiencing what it’s like to work for an SME engineering company. Whether it’s school visits to the NCFM to see our equipment in action or work experience students getting a taste for the working world, we love welcoming the next generation into our business and demonstrating the different areas of engineering that are on offer.
The facts
The UN has highlighted that 16 per cent of the global population is made up of young people aged 15 to 24 years and that they’re almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults so it’s vital that employers help them into the world of work. What’s more, Engineering UK predicted an annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians for core engineering roles in the UK over the next ten years, so we take our responsibility to encourage more students into the world of engineering very seriously! In support of World Youth Skills Day (a UN initiative) on 15 July 2019, we thought we’d hear from two school students who have spent time with us.
Why did we choose OAL?
Hadi Mohammadi: “I am currently studying maths, chemistry and history at A level, which means there are a wide variety of careers that I can pursue. Engineering is an industry that’s always in demand so there are lots of opportunities for anyone interested in STEM-based careers. I came to OAL for my work experience as the larger companies seemed to be less personal in their approach to tackling work experience placements. As I will be soon be applying for university, working with different departments at OAL has given me a wide range of knowledge including which branch of engineering I want to follow!”
Eve Osborne: “Originally, I had considered engineering as a career as I am currently studying for my GCSEs and am particularly interested in maths and science. However, I also enjoy art and being creative, which I have discovered can be important in certain types of engineering. I wanted to come to OAL for my work experience because of my interest in engineering but had not yet decided which branch would be best for me. OAL was great because the team allowed me to spend time with all the different departments within the company. This not only gave me an insight into what every day jobs of engineers are like but also about all the different departments that are necessary to run a successful business.”
What did we do?
“Throughout our time at OAL, we got to experience many different aspects of the business. We were able to spend some time at the NCFM (National Centre for Food Manufacturing) to see the Steam Infusion system demonstration and the APRIL Robot Chef in action, which was an amazing experience. In addition to this we spent some time with the APRIL Robotics team where we were able to control the robot to complete certain engaging tasks.
In the workshop we were shown how to wire panels and even spent some time wiring them ourselves. The design team showed us how they used CAD (Computer Aided Design) and allowed us to try to complete some technical drawings as well as showing us the simulations that they programmed. This gave us many new and important skills which will be helpful in our futures as engineers.
Over parts of our week with OAL we spent some time with the administration team where we were able to complete helpful tasks and shown how important every aspect of the company is.”
Would we recommend it?
“Overall, we found work experience at OAL to be extremely beneficial in every aspect as all the staff were willing to give their time and answer all our questions enthusiastically. As students, we found our time with OAL was not only really helpful in deciding our futures but also a motivating and exciting experience and would definitely recommend work experience at OAL to other students interested in any aspect of engineering.”