OAL appoints Jake Norman as Managing Director

OAL, a market leader in automation, robotics and digital transformation solutions for the food manufacturing sector, has appointed Jake Norman as its new Managing Director. Founder, Harry Norman will remain on the board.

Jake Norman has over a decade of experience in automation and a proven track record of developing long-term customer relationships. He joined the board two years ago as Sales Director, taking P&L responsibility for the business and winning a number of new customers. Notably, he has recently secured a £2 million part-government funded Carbon Trust project to deploy the company’s robotic chef with Marks & Spencer and Solina.

“I’m proud to lead the family business into a new era as we navigate the fantastic opportunities automation and robotics present to our customers,” comments Jake Norman, Managing Director, OAL. “We’re inspired by Harry’s visionary approach to automation, he’s built an exceptional engineering team that help our customers succeed and I’m looking forward to building on this foundation.”

OAL was founded in 1993 by Harry Norman and quickly developed a strong reputation for pioneering the latest technology to solve the challenges faced by the food industry. From integrated MES/SCADA factory control systems to AI cameras verifying product packaging and date coding and robotic weighing system, OAL has become the partner of choice for food manufacturers on a digital transformation journey.

Harry Norman, Founder, OAL added, “Jake’s passion for technology and his understanding of the food manufacturing sector make him the ideal leader for OAL as we look towards an exciting future. I am proud to see him take on this role and have every confidence in his ability to steer OAL to new heights.”

Visit OAL at Hall 10.1, Stand F-069 at Anuga Foodtec Cologne, Germany, 19-22 March 2024 to learn more.

OAL Announce Seamless Integration with NiceLabel

OAL is excited to announce the release of a full and seamless integration to NiceLabel as part of our label and date code verification system, OAL Connected. 

“At OAL we understand the pressures that food manufacturers are under to meet the label requirements of their retailers. We believe that this integration will not only support them in automating labelling and verification but will provide a much better user experience for our customers,” commented Jake Norman, Sales Director, OAL.

For businesses currently using the end-of-life Dataguard label printing software, OAL and Nicelabel offer a proven switching path. Join other fresh produce businesses including Wealmoor and Worldwide Fruit who have already benefited from switching to OAL for a robust label printing solution.

Read more about how Wealmoor switched from Dataguard to OAL here.

Why NiceLabel?

For those unfamiliar, NiceLabel is one of the most respected names in the label design industry. The solution provides a comprehensive and powerful suite of tools to help manufacturers create, print and manage labels that are both high-quality and meet rigorous industry standards. 

“Working with site teams, we’ve been able to significantly reduce the number of label design templates, simplifying their process. NiceLabel is easy to use and provides compliance with retailer codes of practice” shared Faye Louch, OAL Trainer.

How OAL integrate with NiceLabel?

We have integrated NiceLabel with the OAL system in the same way as other label design software such as Clarisoft and Markem Colos.

When an operator selects a job on the OAL system, the variable field data is pulled from the OAL Master Product Database and integrated into your template design created in NiceLabel. This then instructs and controls the printer, ensuring the right information is printed on the label. The integration works for both offline and online printing with the OAL system monitoring and alerting if printers enter fault status in accordance with retailer codes of practice.

The Value This Delivers for You

We believe this integrated solution provides significant value for those looking to migrate from Dataguard or anyone looking for a comprehensive and intuitive labelling solution. The benefits include:

A Unified Process: Users can design a label in NiceLabel, and then seamlessly verify its integrity and compliance using our verification system. This means a smoother workflow and reduced risk of error.

Enhanced Efficiency: The need for multiple systems or manual data entry is eliminated. When you design a label in NiceLabel, the details are automatically synchronised with the OAL master product database.

Greater Accuracy: With the automated synchronisation between the two platforms, you reduce the risk of oversight or data discrepancies; what you design is what you verify.

Find Out More and Get Started

If you're considering switching label design to NiceLabel, now is a great time! Integrating with OAL means you’re not just getting a great label design tool, you're also getting a comprehensive verification solution that ensures retailer code of practice compliance and our award-winning customer support team is there to support you 24/7, 365 days a year. 

We would be more than happy to explain the solution further and answer any specific questions you may have. Simply reach out to the OAL team – contact us.

Navigate the Future of Fresh Produce at Fruit Focus 2023 with OAL

The esteemed Fruit Focus 2023 event returns to the UK's fruit industry stage on 12th July 2023. Hosted at NIAB, East Malling, Kent, England, the event will run from 09:00 to 17:00. Fruit Focus is your gateway to new advancements in fresh fruit sectors, wine-making, and viticulture.

Fruit Focus is recognised as the UK's leading technical event for the fruit industry. It is a valuable meeting point for industry professionals to update themselves on recent technological innovations and trends. The event creates an ideal environment for networking with colleagues and exchanging industry-specific insights.

We are excited to share that Jake Norman, OAL's Sales Director, will be delivering a seminar from 9:00 to 9:20 am. His talk will tackle the challenge of automating and digitalising fresh produce production, sharing key learnings from a ground-breaking automation project with M&S and Solina Carbon Trust Project.

This project, known as the Souper Green Project, represents a milestone in OAL's journey to revolutionise the food processing landscape. With the support of a £2 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) and the backing of Marks and Spencer PLC, the Souper Green project embodies the transformative power of sustainable automation.

Jake's presentation at Fruit Focus 2023 provides a unique opportunity to delve into these advancements, understand their potential impact on the fruit and wine sectors, and explore how innovation and digitalisation can lead to a more sustainable future.

Your participation at Fruit Focus 2023 is a step towards that future. Take advantage of the free pre-registration and access a wealth of benefits including the Fruit Forums, NIAB Research Tours, and the Growing Kent & Medway Innovation Showcase. There's a wealth of knowledge to be gained and connections to be made. We look forward to welcoming you for a day of growth and discovery at Fruit Focus 2023.

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Leading the Transformation: OAL Introduces Steam Infusion and APRIL™ Robotics to the Chemical Industry at Expoquimia 2023

Date: 30 May - 2 June, 2023
Location: Gran Via, Hall 3, Level 0, Street D, Stand 119 - Barcelona, Spain
Website: expoquimia.com/en

OAL, in collaboration with our esteemed System Integrator partner, Raimaber, are proud to be exhibiting at Expoquimia 2023. Join us in Barcelona, Spain, from 30 May- 2 June, as we redefine the landscape of chemical manufacturing, showcasing groundbreaking innovations that will shape the future of the industry.

At OAL, we aim to revolutionise industrial processes through cutting-edge technologies. Our groundbreaking Steam Infusion technology has unlocked new possibilities within chemical manufacturing, offering unrivaled control and efficiency. Witness the transformative power of Steam Infusion as we showcase our state-of-the-art demo unit at Expoquimia.

Alongside our partner, Raimaber, renowned for their expertise in system integration, we are proud to introduce APRIL™ Robotics, the world's first robotic Weighing System, initially engineered for the food and beverage manufacturing industry. We are thrilled to share that APRIL™ Robotics is perfectly poised to support the chemical industry as well, with its adaptability and versatility. Marvel at the precision and efficiency of APRIL™ Robotics as it seamlessly integrates into your manufacturing processes, ensuring accurate and consistent weighing, minimising waste, and optimising productivity. Experience the potential for enhanced operational efficiency and discover how APRIL™ Robotics empowers your workforce to achieve new levels of accuracy and productivity.

At Expoquimia 2023, we invite you to visit our dedicated stand, where our partner will be showcasing the synergy of Steam Infusion and APRIL™ Robotics. Immerse yourself in our informative video display and witness how these innovations redefine processes, enhance productivity, and revolutionise the chemical industry. Engage in conversations with industry experts, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative opportunities as we collectively drive the transformation of the chemical sector.

See you at the event. Register for the event at the link bow.

Charting the Future of Fresh Produce: Join us at 'Festival of Fresh' 2023 event

This summer, the UK's fresh produce industry is gearing up for an event that promises to be an invigorating celebration of British harvest and a forum for insightful discussions on emerging challenges. The Festival of Fresh 2023, organised by the Fresh Produce Journal (FPJ Live), is set to take place on the auspicious Midsummer’s Day, 21st June 2023, at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire.

In the recent past, over 300 industry leaders and experts have flocked to this distinguished gathering, revelling in the spirit of innovation and camaraderie. This year, the event promises to be more insightful and engaging, given the current trials we face - labour shortages, energy price surge, and raw material costs.

OAL is proud to announce that Jake Norman, Director at OAL, will be one of the esteemed speakers at this year’s event. Known for his stance on the integration of technology in the fresh produce industry, Jake will be sharing valuable insights from our groundbreaking £2m Carbon Trust project.

The project, in collaboration with M&S and Solina, demonstrated the power of digitalisation and automation in the manufacturing sector. Achieving an astounding 80% reduction in energy consumption, this project stands as a testament to the potential of smart manufacturing.

Jake will not only be sharing insights from this transformative project, but he will also bring to light successful automation implementations in the fresh produce sector, highlighting some of our elite clients who achieved remarkable results with digitalisation. Participants can look forward to an engaging demonstration of the software and technologies that underpin the success of these advancements.

As we celebrate the best of British fresh produce at the Festival of Fresh, we also seek to equip ourselves to better address rising concerns in the UK industry. Jake Norman's insights into the power of digitalisation and automation aims to guide the audience with a way forward strategy- a path to overcome labour shortages, reduce energy consumption, and maintain high-quality produce more efficiently.

Join us at the Festival of Fresh 2023 as we explore the future of our industry, showcasing the potential of smart manufacturing to revolutionise the way we deliver food manufacturing excellence.

Registrations are open now!