OAL News
OAL digitises its operations
In mid-2020, as the UK remained in lockdown due to COVID-19, we were awarded a grant to digitise our operations. As a result of the steps taken, we’re now working smarter, working faster and being more productive, helping the business to accelerate significantly.
In mid-2020, as the UK remained in lockdown due to COVID-19, we were awarded a grant to digitise our operations. As a result of the steps taken, we’re now working smarter, faster and more productively, helping the business to accelerate significantly. James Palmer, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, visited us to see how we got on!
Banishing paper to the recycling
Harry and the team were able to digitise the business thanks to the COVID-19 Capital Grants Scheme from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. With a grant of around £48,000, OAL was able to make the most of the quieter period at the height of the lockdown to take steps to streamline operations and take advantage of new technologies. This meant an end to old systems generating what amounted to around 14 square metres of paperwork and non-integrated software which made it difficult for our teams to work collaboratively.
“This grant has been extraordinarily important for the future of our business. People are now doing in two hours what it might have take them all day to do before. We’re estimating productivity gains of about 20% within our business.”
State-of-the-art pods
The digitisation comes with 14 new, fully-equipped pods for staff to work in. Building work for the new pods and the setting up of the new equipment has been very cost-effective, using local contractors, prefabricated panels, Amazon Alexa hubs and Microsoft Teams software, for example, to slash the cost of a typical refit and overhaul. This meant we actually achieved double the number of pods than what was originally envisioned with the grant money.
Each pod is self-sufficient with its own ventilation, lights and screens allowing one person to work in a quiet, productive environment, where they can collaborate with colleagues and customers easily through video calls and shared documents, allowing for a more interactive way of working.
The pods also allow people to work in two-metre spaces, adhering to the latest public health guidelines, as beforehand the original open plan office environment provided too many distractions and meetings were not always productive.
“Adversity does create opportunity and COVID-19 has given us time to reflect. We had too much paperwork and our systems held back our potential to work more effectively as a team. The more we have rolled out this technology, the more we wished we had done it sooner.”
We received a ringing endorsement from Mayor Palmer, who was amazed by how much we achieved with the grant and commented that we had created “the most innovative, paperless 21st century office” and “the future of offices”. The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority were exceptionally helpful throughout the application process, offering practical information and even making themselves available at weekends to help support us at what was a difficult time across the world. The transformation that we made wouldn’t have been possible without the grant so a big thank you to Mayor Palmer and the rest of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority team!
Ready to work with the new and improved OAL? Get in touch with us today!
Harry Norman's top 4 tips to thrive in 2020
With almost 30 years working with the food industry, Harry Norman’s seen it all and knows how to help manufacturers to extend machinery life or carry out refurbishments to meet revised process requirements and boost productivity. Here are his top four tips for thriving during these straitened times.
During the current climate of uncertainty, it’s clear that food manufacturers are up against it. Having to meet increased demand with fewer people while also implementing social distancing measures to protect staff and at the same time working with equipment that has perhaps seen better days… It’s certainly been a hard few months and it’s likely to continue. As reported in The Times, analysts at Peel Hunt have calculated that £23 billion has been cut from CAPEX budgets for this year in British listed companies alone. This means that it could be some time before manufacturers can consider investing in new machinery, let alone innovations to take operations to the next level.
It’s now more important than ever to make the most of what you have, something that our MD, Harry Norman, knows plenty about. With almost 30 years working with the food industry, he’s seen it all and knows how to help manufacturers to extend machinery life or carry out refurbishments to meet revised process requirements and boost productivity. Here are his top four tips for thriving during these straitened times.
Digital transformation
Productivity has always been the key buzzword in the global economy, but it has perhaps never been more necessary to return to pre-2008 levels. It was reported in February 2020 that the slowdown in productivity growth in the UK over the last ten years is the worst since the start of the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago, and the impact of COVID-19 is likely to have only worsened this situation.
So the question is, how can you increase your productivity, particularly if you can’t invest in major capital equipment? One way is to begin your journey towards digital transformation. By digitising your operations, you can typically achieve productivity savings of 10% running smarter and leaner and making the most of your existing assets. For example, by going paperless, your plant data can be transformed into useful insights, rather than disparate sheets of paper, allowing you to identify bottlenecks, downtime issues and waste. Our experts, trained in Six Sigma, alongside our software such as our LMS or APRIL Eye, can help you drive productivity gains across your entire facility.
Process simplification
Total production time for three 1,000 kg (2204 lb) batches of béchamel sauce using a traditional steam jacketed kettle vs. Steam Infusion.
When was the last time you reviewed your processes? We mean really delved into the detail? Chances are, it’s been a while and you could benefit from a fresh set of eyes highlighting any simplifications or rationalisations that can be made to speed up operations and boost efficiency. OAL is 100% dedicated to the food industry, and having completed hundreds of projects for manufacturers, both big and small, it means our experts can look at things differently, saving our customers millions of pounds through simple changes to improve throughput.
For example, one of the ways in which we can reduce the processing time of a béchamel sauce is by using our award-winning Steam Infusion technology, which not only achieves faster cooking times but also reduces the number of processing stages required. The traditional roux is not needed at the beginning of the process, and Steam Infusion can be used to mix whilst heating, while the lack of burn-on means that the number of CIP cycles can be reduced by up to 80%, saving valuable time and money.
Focus on maintenance
There’s no doubt that as people, we’re all more interested in innovation than maintenance, and it’s no different when it comes to plant equipment. But while budgets are tightened, it will become vital to make the most of your existing kit. It might be tempting to reduce maintenance right now but while you may see short-term gains, you could see long-term damage. An effective maintenance schedule and working with experts can help to take care of your kit to help it last longer.
For example, our Steam Infusion technology can also be used to extend vessel life. There’s no need to condemn your kettle cooking system and invest in a new jacket or tank if it fails the pressure tests or is no longer cooking efficiently. A simple retrofit adding one of our In-Tank Steam Infusion Vaction Pumps breathes new life into your existing kit, while delivering added benefits such as near maintenance-free operation and energy efficiency – particularly valuable at this time.
Consider used equipment
As we see the unfortunate news that some plants are closing due to the challenging economic conditions, we will inevitably see a rise in used kit coming on to the market, and this will be of a better quality that can usually be found. This can often be a cost-effective way to boost your productivity but it can be a challenge to find the right equipment and ensure that it is installed seamlessly into your existing processes.
While used kit can often represent a bargain, it requires a diverse set of engineering resources to integrate equipment that doesn’t meet your exact requirements. It may look great on paper but there are a number of questions to consider, such as how old is it, what is the warranty, are the controls current and even how will you get it to your plant?
Working with trusted partners, such as OAL, who have experience in delivering both new and refurbished equipment, as well as effective maintenance, ensures you get the right advice before committing, allowing you to minimise the risk and maximise savings.
Get in touch today to see how we can support you during this time!
SafeContractor accredited for the fifth year in a row
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been approved as a SafeContractor for the fifth year in a row. Receiving this accreditation recognises our dedication to health and safety, both in terms of our workforce and how we work to protect our employees and our customers. When you work with OAL, you can be sure you’re in safe hands partnering with a responsible company.
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been approved as a SafeContractor for the fifth year in a row. Receiving this accreditation recognises our dedication to health and safety, both in terms of our workforce and how we work to protect our employees and our customers. When you work with OAL, you can be sure you’re in safe hands partnering with a responsible company.
What is SafeContractor?
Alcumus SafeContractor is a leading third-party health and safety assessment scheme initiated by the UK government under Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSiP). SSiP promotes a minimum standard of health and safety assessments and helps customers to identify which companies meet the UK’s rigorous health and safety requirements. The accreditation is a sign of professional and credible contractor business, and all listed businesses can be found by registered customers via the client web portal. For any customers who are not clients, further information can be found on the SafeContractor website.
How do you become SafeContractor approved?
To gain accreditation requires that we provide examples of all our health and safety paperwork to ensure it is up to date and meets legal industry requirements. This includes risk assessments, method statements, COSHH assessments and working at height, to name just a few!
SafeContractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, due to the number of contracted services. The SafeContractor seal of approval means you can be sure that we’re doing all we can to adhere to the very highest standard of health and safety and legal compliance, providing you with peace of mind when our teams carry out work on your sites.
With our accreditation, you can be sure you’re getting the very best service from us. Got a project in the food industry? Get in touch today!
OAL celebrates double win at MiCE awards 2020!
We’re delighted to announce that we have won two awards at the MiCE awards! We took home the Manufacturing Innovation Award for our APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling System, and we were also presented with the Manufacturing Apprentice/Training Scheme Award. Now on to the finals in June 2020 - fingers crossed!
We’re delighted to announce that we have won two awards at the Made in Central & East (MiCE) awards! We took home the Manufacturing Innovation Award for our APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling System, and we were also presented with the Manufacturing Apprentice/Training Scheme Award. We were up against some tough competition so we’re thrilled to have been recognised by the judges and are extremely proud of the hard work of our teams. Following on from the regional awards we’ve been entered into the national finals in Liverpool – hopefully we can repeat our success in June 2020!
Innovative APRIL
Our APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system revolutionises the way that ingredients and components are handled in industrial facilities. The judging panel was impressed with our innovative design and our goal to improve operations in facilities across the globe. Weighing and scaling of powders is a key task in nearly all manufacturing operations everywhere but it can prove costly to manufacturers, primarily due to labour costs. Manual handling in harsh and dusty environments can also have an extremely detrimental impact on employees’ health but there hasn’t been a viable alternative before now.
The APRIL Robotics Ingredient Weighing system offers a real alternative to operators on the factory floor. Not only does the system’s cells automatically weigh powders to an accuracy up to +/- 1g at weigh-up rates of up to 1,000kg/hr, but it also offers full traceability and can help to reduce waste. What’s more, with wages on the rise, the APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling System can help to reduce labour costs by allowing you to implement unmanned operations in your facility.
Dedicated to development
We also took home the Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award! We’re dedicated to supporting training and development, and at any one time we have an average of 15% of our workforce completing further studies or an apprenticeship. The judges highlighted our commitment to investing in training to ensure that the right people are in place to drive the business forward and offer solutions to meet the challenges of tomorrow in the food industry. Our partnership with the University of Lincoln, among other education providers, allows us to invest in our people so our employees benefit from recognised qualifications. We’re extremely proud of the hard work and commitment put in by our staff and are truly honoured to have been awarded the accolade by the judges.
Find out more about our award-winning solutions!
OAL FoodTech Open Day global success
Thursday 30 January 2020 saw us hold our first FoodTech Open Day to demonstrate our innovative technology and the impact it can have on the food and beverage industry. The sold-out event welcomed attendees from around the globe, and with live demonstrations and expert presentations, we certainly got our attendees thinking!
Thursday 30 January 2020 saw us hold our first FoodTech Open Day to demonstrate the latest in food technology and how it can transform the food and beverage industry. The sold-out event welcomed attendees from around the globe to our test centre at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (part of the University of Lincoln) and offered an exclusive behind the scenes look at the latest in food tech. With live demonstrations and expert presentations, we certainly got our attendees thinking!
Take a look at the highlights from our latest event!
Unmanned flexible food manufacturing
The day began with a presentation detailing the vision of unmanned flexible food manufacturing with APRIL Robotics. Harry Norman, Managing Director of OAL, explained the development of our automated solutions designed to tackle today’s challenges including productivity, labour costs and consumer demand. Attendees were also introduced to Steam Infusion, the key to unlocking high speed processing to keep up with the production rate of these new robotic systems.
Perhaps the highlight of the day was witnessing Steam Infusion in action on our Robot Chef as it effortlessly created a sweet fruit sauce within minutes. Not only was the robot a real sight to behold, capturing the attention of all our visitors, but the sauce was extremely well received in the taste test!
Breakout sessions
The afternoon consisted of attendees being split into rotations for a more in-depth look at different challenges within the food industry that new technology can help to overcome. Andrea Paoli, Associate Professor in Food Robotics and Process Automation at the NCFM, demonstrated the University of Lincoln’s latest project; using cobots to replicate human operators in weighing out micro ingredients, while Jake Norman, Head of Sales, and Ian Beauchamp, Process Engineering Manager, offered a guide to food manufacturers looking to take the first step towards digital transformation.
Sustainability was the subject of the afternoon presentation led by Dr Wayne Martindale, who brought over 20 years’ experience to the captivated room. The attendees then got to experience a savoury cook with Steam Infusion led by Development Chef Chris Brooks that got the taste buds tingling. And finally, our visitors got to hear about the latest automation developments with OAL Connected, including LMS and the world’s first artificial intelligence-based solution for label and date code verification, APRIL™ Eye.
It truly was a varied day and we’re very grateful to all those attendees who came and participated so enthusiastically - we enjoyed every minute!