Spotlight on a career as a Senior Robotics Design Engineer

Day in the life of…

Michal Such

Michal Such is a Senior Robotics Design Engineer working in APRIL Robotics at OAL. He lives in Peterborough with his wife Joanna.

My alarm goes off…

At 6:30 am – I get up straight away and prepare breakfast and lunch. I leave home with my wife at 7:50 am and drop her off in the centre where she works, then drive to OAL.

I’m responsible for…

Designing our robotic systems. Most of my time is spent designing mechanical components, which includes fatigue analysis using Finite Element Analysis. We do a lot of robotic simulation that allows me to minimise the risks associated with automation. I also perform different robot studies and ensure that the cycle time complies with customer requirements and efficiency goals.

I got the job…

Thanks to my degree and experience in Automation and Robotics as well as good knowledge of the food industry. I wanted to continue my adventure in mechanical engineering and to find a company which combines automation and robotics within the food industry. Once I discovered what OAL can offer – developing innovative market solutions that nobody has yet designed – I knew that this was a company I wanted to work for!

My typical day…

Kicks off with a stand-up meeting with the entire team to sum up our progress. After that I grab a cup of coffee and go through my task list and emails. From there I get straight into the most important job I have for the day, which could be anything from designing new components, prototyping, simulation, testing or just supporting my team members.

My most memorable moment…

Is seeing a part that I have designed going into prototyping and then into final production – it never gets old!

The worst part of my job is…

Detailing components. Detailing is an integral part of a design engineer’s job and is the least interesting!

The best part of my job is…

Working on challenging tasks like designing something new and difficult. The more challenging the job, the greater the satisfaction, of course only if it has been done right.

After work…

I pick up my wife from work, drive home, we cook dinner together and chill out either by watching a film, working out or just spending time together.

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Sound intriguing? We’re growing, and always on the look-out for talented and ambitious people. If you’re interested in a career at OAL, get in touch today.

Spotlight on a career as a Technical Trainer

Day in the life of…

Faye Louch

Faye Louch is OAL Connected’s Technical Trainer. She has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of technical and quality control roles within the food industry.

My alarm goes off…

At 6am, although I am usually already awake thinking about the day ahead. I get up and have breakfast, and when I am at home, I say morning to the hubby and dog.  Before leaving for work, I hide some treats around the house for the dog and put the radio on for him before setting off for another busy day at work. I will also usually give my son a quick call to check in with him and how he is getting on at uni.

I’m responsible for…

The training and health check audits of our label and date code verification systems in the field. The systems work by scanning every pack and comparing it to the pre-entered job information on the master database to make sure that the right packaging, label and date code is on the right product to prevent product recalls and emergency product withdrawals. The system can be perceived as quite complex, so my job is to train the users to make the most of it and ensure that we provide them with maximum protection. 

I got the job…

After my son went off to university and I decided to take stock of what I wanted to do. While considering my options, I saw the job at OAL and applied. As I’m not an engineer, I didn’t think I would get it. However, OAL really valued my 20 years’ experience in the food industry, working in various roles from operator and section manager on production, to QA manager in a factory and technical system quality manager. I think it also helped that I enjoy systems and understand customer codes of practice (COP)! 

I have to admit to being a little nervous when I first started at OAL but everyone is so friendly; it’s like a big family! We all pitch in and help each other, which is one of the things I love about working here.

My typical day…

Involves helping our customers to understand the information they input to the supervisory area of our system and how this data is translated and appears on the touchscreen that operators use on the factory floor. This screen offers all of the information they need and links to printers and scanners so they no longer need to set up printers by manually inputting the dates – this is where things can go wrong!

The other part of my job is visiting all of our sites that have our system and carrying out a health audit. This is like a check up on the system to ensure that it’s still functioning correctly post-installation. I also check it against OAL and customer COPs to ensure the system is compliant. If a COP has changed, I highlight any parts of the system that are no longer compliant so that fixes can be developed to ensure that the system is the best it can be for our customers. I also challenge test the system and look for ways to improve it. 

My most memorable moment…

Was when we had the pleasure of BRC (British Retail Consortium) representatives visiting our facility to take them through our label and date code verification systems. After reviewing BRC COP issue 8, we had the pleasure of hosting them at our facilities to discuss their recommendations in detail, as well as practical applications. This helps our customers when it comes to audits going forward as the BRC representatives will understand our systems and interpret the standard reasonably.

The worst part of my job is…

Trying to keep on top of my emails, especially when I’m out on-site all day!

The best part of my job is…

That every day is different. I love working with our customers and seeing a job through from set-up to going live. Also, I love it when the operators I work with in the factory are a little reticent about the our systems, yet when you go back six months or a year later, those same operators take pride in it and train others on it – this really make it all worthwhile and is a pleasure to see.

After work…

I like to relax by going walking and once or twice a week I also go Taekwondo. My son is part of the GB Taekwondo Squad, and although he is away at university, I still spend a lot of time taking him training and competitions or train stations! Due to his passion for the sport, I agreed to take part with him rather than just watching. This means that now, I too love the sport and have achieved the level of black belt. I also took the Sports England Level 2 coaching qualification so I’m a qualified coach too!

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Like the sound of what Faye gets up to? We’re always on the look-out for great talent and have a number of vacancies. If you’re interested in a career with OAL, get in touch today.

Spotlight on a career as a Product Development Chef

Day in the life of…

Chris Brooks

Chris Brooks is OAL’s Product Development Chef. He has over 35 years’ experience as a chef and has spent over 20 years in product development. He lives in East Northamptonshire.

My alarm goes off…

At 5.30. I get up, walk the dog, have some breakfast and leave the house at 7.15 ready for another busy day.

I can be at the office in Cambridgeshire or working with the University of Lincoln at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), part of their Holbeach Campus. I also do quite a bit of travelling to customer sites all around the globe (in February it was Australia!) to help them make the most of our Steam Infusion technology.

I’m responsible for…

Supporting our customers with anything they may need to enable Steam Infusion to improve their end products. This involves both remotely connecting with the customer as well as spending time with them face to face, either at our test centre or at their site. Whether it’s the new product development team, the technical department or operations, I’m here to help them understand the technology and demonstrate how they can innovate with our systems. I assist in the writing of recipes, pushing the boundaries of taste and giving customers the confidence to utilise the science behind Steam Infusion to produce unique customer solutions.

I got the job…

Thanks to my in-depth knowledge of the food industry having worked with many major retailers along with household brands such as Saxby Bros, Hartley’s and Whitworths to name a few. I’ve also worked on products for celebrity chefs, such as Antony Worrall Thompson, Delia Smith and Mary Berry – so I have a good grasp of what both manufacturers and consumers are looking for. A well-rounded understanding of mechanical engineering and my experience as an army chef possibly helped too.

My typical day…

No day is the same as I could be doing any number of things. Often I’m working onsite anywhere around the world supporting customers in their tests or helping them to optimise their recipes for the technology. But I also have to spend time at the office working on recipes and formulations. The best thing about my job is there is no typical day! 

My most memorable moment…

Of my time at OAL was definitely when we first cooked a sauce on the APRIL Robotic Chef. It really is a sight to be seen, especially how it pours rather than pumps the end product!

The worst part of my job is…

Knowing there is so much more Steam Infusion can do and not having the time to push the boundaries more. Oh, and the washing up after customers have left but even that isn’t too bad!

The best part of my job is…

Working with customers to help resolve any problems, watching their faces when they first see Steam Infusion and how quickly it works. I get to work with some fantastic people and I never stop learning.

After work…

I spend most evenings playing taxi to my son, taking him to his many clubs. I am a basketball referee, which I have my son to thank for as I wanted to get involved after spending so much time watching him play! I also support my local branch of The Royal British Legion where I have been their Standard Bearer for over 10 years helping to support our veterans and serving armed forces.

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Fancy getting involved with projects with Chris? We’re growing and want to hear from enthusiastic and ambitious people. If you’d like to join the team, get in touch today.

Work experience at OAL

At OAL, we believe it’s vital to inspire the next generation to consider a career in engineering. After all, Engineering UK has predicted that there will be an annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians to fill core engineering roles in the UK over the next ten years, so we all need to do everything we can to encourage young people to explore their options. That’s why we often have work experience students spend a week with us so they can get to know what real jobs in the engineering world are like, from mechanical and electrical to design and software!

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In March 2019, we welcomed GSCE student Owen Gore, who is interested in pursuing a career in engineering. He spent his time across several departments, including our test centre at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), to get a feel for what the world of work is like. Here, he takes us through his experience and explains why he would recommend other students take advantage of a work experience placement with us!

“When arriving on my first day I was shown around all of the departments and introduced to the people who worked there. I felt very welcomed and ready to get started. Over the course of the week, I saw many of the processes that go into the projects that OAL deliver, from the early phases of design and concepts right through to the end result in the demonstration systems showcasing OAL’s robotics and Steam Infusion technologies working in a factory environment.

“I spent time with the technical design department where live projects really start to take shape and become the blueprint needed for the engineers who have to install OAL’s systems. I was able to use the software that OAL’s design engineers use and I was amazed at how you can picture the whole project just through an image on a screen.

“Mid-week, I was taken to the NCFM in Holbeach where I saw the Steam Infusion system and the APRIL Robotic Chef in action! It gave me a huge insight into what the company wanted to achieve and how they were changing the industry for the better.

“During my time in support, sales and marketing I realised how much work went on alongside the design and manufacturing of the product, whether that be the efforts selling the product to a large company or supporting the factories the company supplies to use the systems effectively.

“I would recommend other students consider OAL for their work experience placement. The team there is really eager to help you understand what a career in engineering looks like and answer any questions you might have. If you’re unsure what you want to do after school, it’s a great place to start to explore the working world.”

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So if you’re intrigued about a career in engineering and want to find out more, why not get in touch with us to spend a week with the team. It could even lead to a career at OAL!

Spotlight on a career in customer support

Day in the life of…

Josh Pembery

Joshua Pembery is a Customer Support Engineer at OAL Connected. He lives in March, Cambridgeshire.

My alarm goes off…

At 6.30 – this gives me enough time to get up, get myself ready and leave the house for 7.30 ready to start another day at the office.

I’m responsible for…

Supporting our customers with any issues that they may have with their equipment. This involves both remotely connecting with the customer, whether it’s the engineering team, the technical department or operators themselves, to help them resolve any problems that have arisen on a line or visiting the site itself if they need a little more support and guidance. I’m also responsible for quoting and supplying spare parts and replacements to our customers. As this is a growing part of our business, I’ve recently taken on the responsibility of launching our e-commerce platform to offer customers a new way to purchase spare parts and training from OAL Connected. Customers expect to be able to deal with us online and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to get what they need to make the most of their systems - it’s been a great project to work on.

I got the job…

By taking a recommendation from a colleague of mine who had joined OAL. We had completed an apprenticeship at Nestlé together and it was there I gained my Level 3 in Proficiency in the Food Industry, which gave me knowledge and experience working in food. He had already made the move to OAL and was really positive about the culture and the values of the business, which did tempt me. At first, I wasn’t sure about the role, as the idea of a traditional customer service position didn’t really fit into my career plans. However, once I talked to OAL and explored the role further, I realised it there was so much more to the job and it would allow me to develop new skills and gain new experience so I’m really glad I pursued this career.

My typical day…

I get to work anywhere between 8:00am and 8:30am, depending on traffic. I make my morning cup of tea, check my emails for anything that’s come in overnight, and make my plan for the day ahead. Typically I could be doing anything from web development, to working with the support team, fixing things such as accessibility, as well as always being on standby for any queries that come in by email or phone from customers.

My most memorable moment…

Of my time at OAL so far is being asked to drive forward our e-commerce sales capabilities. It was great to be given so much responsibility and I realised that the company has real trust in me and was vested in my development. It’s great to work in a company that values its team.

The worst part of my job is…

Long distance drives travelling alone to customer sites – music only stays interesting for so long!

The best part of my job is…

Meeting customers, especially after speaking to them a lot on the phone – it’s always nice to put a face to a name and feel that you’ve made a real connection. I also love getting to work on projects by myself – it’s a great feeling of accomplishment when I complete them, and it helps me see how far I’ve come since I started.

After work…

I usually go home, have dinner and a shower and then do whatever I have planned for the evening, whether it’s going out to see a friend or family, or having a quiet night in playing some games.

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Want to enjoy a similar day? We’re always on the look-out for great employees so get in touch today.

Double winners at MiCE awards 2019

We’re thrilled to announce that we were double winners at the Made in Central & East England (MiCE) Awards 2019! APRIL™ Eye took home the Digital Engineering/Technology Award and Kyle Constable, technical sales lead for Steam Infusion was recognised as the Apprentice of the Year. Insider's MiCE Awards are a celebration of all that's great about manufacturing, shining a light on the region's innovations so we’re delighted to have been acknowledged - adding to our success at the end of 2018. Following on from our regional win, we’ve now been entered into the national awards - keep your fingers crossed for us in June!

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All Eyes on APRIL™

APRIL™ Eye is the world’s first artificial intelligence vision solution and since its launch, it has been widely recognised as a game changer for the global food industry. The judging panel chose APRIL Eye as the winner of the Digital Engineering/Technology award for OAL’s desire to create jobs and export opportunities using this technology. It fully automates the date code verification process to reduce the risk of product recalls and withdrawals caused by human error on packaging lines. It’s great that MiCE also appreciates how APRIL Eye can make a significant improvement to processes, safety, quality and efficiency and deliver cost savings to food manufacturers on their packaging lines.

APRIL Eye transforms the traditional date code verification process by combining machine learning and artificial intelligence, fully automating the date code verification process. Rather than relying on operators to check the date code is printed correctly on every pack, APRIL Eye can remove the human error inherent in these boring, repetitive tasks by reading back the date code. The system can deal with variations such as lighting, positioning, print quality and placement to eliminate errors, protect consumers and the brand while at the same time reducing labour costs and waste.

High achiever

The MiCE Awards judging panel chose Kyle as their Apprentice of the Year for his "ongoing unwavering commitment to his personal development". We certainly agree with them!

Kyle Constable is a degree apprentice at OAL, helping UK and European food manufacturers adopt OAL’s Steam Infusion technology to ensure they maximise the benefits of the cooking process. With a strong background in the food industry having previously worked for Nestlé as a manufacturing apprentice, he is currently completing a degree in Food & Drink Manufacturing Operations Management at the University of Lincoln.

But Kyle doesn’t just take his own personal development seriously. As he represents a success story of taking an apprenticeship route to gaining a degree qualification within the food industry, he uses this experience to mentor students as part of the OAL CSR programme and takes every opportunity to encourage students to consider a career in engineering. It’s wonderful for Kyle to be recognised for such a prestigious award as it endorses his hard work combining studies with great results at the company.

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We’re really making a difference at OAL. Want to join us on this journey? Get in touch to find out more about our award-winning solutions or if you want to be part of a team that values training and development, have a look at our careers page today.

SafeContractor accredited for fourth year running

We can announce that we have been approved as a SafeContractor for the fourth year in a row. Receiving the SafeContractor accreditation recognises our excellence in health and safety, both in terms of our workforce and our ways of working so you can be sure that you’re working with a responsible company.

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Alcumus SafeContractor is a leading third-party health and safety assessment scheme. It helps to identify which companies meet the UK’s rigorous health and safety standards, offering an accredited contractor register to make it easier to find the right company to work with. Achieving the accreditation demonstrates that we’re taking responsibility for our legal health and safety requirements.

To gain the accreditation, we have proved that our health and safety paperwork is up to date and meets legal industry requirements. This includes a health and safety policy, risk assessments, COSHH assessments, construction phase plan, provision and use of work equipment and working at height.

Having the SafeContractor seal of approval means that 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 and you don’t have to worry about our team carrying out work on your site.  

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Whatever your needs, you can be sure that we’ll do the best possible job for you. If you’ve got a project in the food industry, get in touch today and see how we can help you.

Harry Norman's predictions for 2019

Harry Norman, our founder, has his finger on the pulse. Constantly in contact with industry experts and customers, he makes it his job to find out what’s likely to affect our industry, and how we can help food manufacturers stay ahead of the curve. As the end of the year approaches, we spoke to Harry and asked him to share with us his take on the key trends to watch out for in 2019.

Harry, take us through your top trends for food manufacturers in 2019.

I think there are three main areas that will influence the decisions of food manufacturers in 2019. These are labour costs or labour shortages, allergen control and health & safety

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Let’s start with the issue of labour. Is this just something that is affecting the UK?

The number one thing that everyone is going to be talking about in 2019 is the cost of labour and labour shortages. At every show we attended in 2018, it was clear that this is something that is starting to weigh heavily on many manufacturers’ minds. That’s not just the case in the UK, where wages are rising and labour is in short supply due to the upcoming Brexit deal, but also across Europe and the rest of the world. In addition, initiatives like the living wage mean that our operators are getting paid better, but that can then eat into your margins.

Having the option to reduce your workforce, or at least better deploy operators into more value-adding roles, is going to become a priority for many food producers who may struggle to stay in business without the possibility of mitigating wage increases or labour shortages.

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And management of allergens, have we not got this under control already?

Unfortunately, we saw in 2018 what happens when allergen controls go wrong. With the inclusion of sesame flour without clear labelling, a child lost her life. Now, we all know that it was an unintended consequence of the retailer’s operations, but it shouldn’t even be a possibility. As consumers, we all like to think that manufacturers have it taken care of but many existing operations don’t easily lend themselves to full allergen control.

We need to get to a point where there is absolutely zero cross-contamination in our processes so that whatever allergy someone has, there is no risk of coming into contact with that food stuff. Obviously the number one priority is consumer safety, but food manufacturers also have to think of the financial consequences and brand damage that can occur when they get it wrong, and consider their options so that they can achieve full allergen control in their facilities.

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Why do you see health & safety as such a big issue in the food industry?

Health & safety is a concern for any industry, but the food industry is a particular hotspot for these sorts of issues. From musculoskeletal disorders caused by operators carrying sacks of ingredients, to cases of asthma and rhinitis from working with powders, food manufacturing facilities can cause a multitude of health problems for those on the factory floor. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK, and similar bodies globally, are aware of this and are looking to crack down to protect workers.

Let’s take the issue of powders. In the UK, the HSE requires bakeries to avoid exposing its employees to flour dust, or where not practical, to adequately control exposure. The Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) of flour dust is 10mg/m3 (averaged over 8 hours) for long-term exposure and 30mg/m3 (averaged over 15 minutes) for short-term exposure. Yet the HSE believes that 2mg/m3 flour dust in the air for staff working in the weighing and handling of powder ingredients is possible to achieve.* Many bakeries, and other food facilities, will wonder how that could be possible with their existing equipment, but it’s something that they’re going to have to solve in the next year or so. As we saw in early December, the HSE has issued a £150,000 fine to a bakery that didn’t do enough to protect its operators - it’s a good idea to review your operations before it happens to your plant.

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While seemingly insurmountable challenges, there are technological solutions to help you overcome them. So why don’t you make it your New Year’s resolution to dip your toe in the water and start to apply machine learning or robotics to a simple problem in your business? It’s easy to start your digital transformation journey and unlock the benefits of automation with a partner like OAL.

*http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/fl2.pdf

APRIL™ Eye wins Food Processing award

We’re delighted to reveal that our APRIL™ Eye innovation has received yet more industry recognition in the form of the award for Robotics & Automation at the 2018 Food Processing awards. APRIL™ Eye is the world’s first artificial intelligence vision solution, which fully automates the date code verification process to eliminate the risk of product recalls and withdrawals caused by human error on packaging lines. This is yet more good news for our customers and the OAL Connected team following on from the PPMA award win in September 2018.

The Food Processing Awards take place annually to recognise and reward engineering innovations in the food and beverage sector. Beating off stiff competition to be nominated as a finalist, it’s a great achievement for us to take home the prize in this thriving category and clearly demonstrates the industry’s confidence in the impact our APRIL™ Eye technology can make on the food manufacturing industry.

Combining artificial intelligence with machine vision, APRIL™ Eye revolutionises the traditional date code verification process. Food manufacturers no longer need to rely on operators to check if the date code is printed correctly as APRIL™ Eye fully automates the verification process and removes human error from these boring, repetitive tasks. The system reads back the date code seamlessly and can deal with variations such as lighting, positioning, print quality and placement to eliminate errors. The system offers significant improvement to processes, safety, quality and efficiency as well achieving cost savings for food manufacturers on their packaging lines.

Harry Norman, OAL Managing Director, comments, “It’s another great achievement for us to win the Food Processing award for our APRIL™ Eye date code verification system. APRIL™ Eye was developed as part of our Food Manufacturing Digitalisation Strategy, supported by the University of Lincoln and Innovate UK grant funding, and designed to investigate how artificial intelligence could revolutionise this key area of the food manufacturing process. It’s wonderful to receive this industry recognition and clearly demonstrates how successfully we have met our objective to bring a multitude of benefits to our customers through automation.”

So if you’re interested in our multi-award-winning innovation, please get in touch to find out how we can transform your end of line verification process.

OAL supports next generation of food manufacturers

The University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) based in Holbeach, South Lincolnshire, held its graduation prize-giving event for the academic year 17/18 on Monday 10th September 2018.

Samantha Norman, OAL, presenting Sheryl with her award for ‘Best Performance on a Food Sector Higher Apprentice’.

Thanks to our close relationship with NCFM and the importance we place on training and development, OAL sponsored the award for Best Performance on a Food Sector Higher Apprenticeship. The award was won by Bakkavor Product Development Apprentice, Sheryl Gamble, for her particularly high level of commitment she demonstrated during her apprenticeship.  

NCFM, leading in part-time study for food industry employees and innovation with businesses, is dedicated to helping food industry employees advance their careers with part-time apprenticeships and distance learning degrees for those working in quality or technical roles and operations management.

Partnership with industry is at the heart of NCFM’s research agenda and its multidisciplinary research for the food industry has expanded quickly to support the sector’s growth and challenges. The collaborative relationship between OAL and NCFM has brought about research which looks to integrate robotics into food processing. Our Steam Infusion test centre is also located at NCFM’s Holbeach campus.

“We felt it was important to sponsor the prize for Best Performance on a Food Sector Higher Apprenticeship because we’re seriously passionate about training and development for everyone. We work so closely with NCFM and with two of our employees currently studying for a foundation degree at the centre, we certainly understand the importance of the work done here and want to support it in any way we can.”

— Samantha Norman, HR Director, OAL

National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), Holbeach.

At OAL, we pride ourselves on our commitment to supporting the development of our workforce within the ever-changing food industry. With 30% of our staff on a training scheme, apprenticeship or taking a formal qualification, we actively encourage our employees to broaden their skill set as we want to make the most of the great people we have in our organisation.

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We’re always on the lookout for talent. If you think you might have what it takes to succeed at OAL and want to be part of a truly innovative company that’s shaking up the food industry, why not take a look at our vacancies?

Top 3 trends from iba 2018

Our team is back from the iba 2018 show, and what a show it was! As you can see, we certainly had a lot of fun meeting with many of our current customers and impressing potential new ones with our APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling system!

The 24th edition of the global bakery show attracted 76,800 visitors from all over the world: we spoke to people from Australia to Argentina, and India to Italy! Overall the mood was buoyant at the show, with many positive about the industry’s economic development, echoing Confectionery Production’s forecast that the bakery product market is set to reach $530 billion by 2023. Our very own Jake Norman, Innovation Manager, was one of the 72 speakers at the new iba Speakers Corner, sharing our insights with visitors eager to stay ahead of the curve and make the most of this industry growth.

If you didn’t get a chance to make it to the show, we thought we’d share with you our top three trends. Read on to find out!

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Trend 1: Rising labour costs

The rising cost of labour was on the tip of the tongue of everyone who came to speak with us at the show. In some regions, the hourly rate required to attract staff is becoming unmanageable, while in others, it’s impossible to fill positions as companies are unable to meet wage expectations. Even in areas where labour costs have not traditionally posed an issue, there was a definite shift towards future-proofing bakeries to mitigate any forthcoming wage increases that could affect profits. It’s clear that bakeries must seek out alternative methods of increasing the efficiency of their current processes to mitigate the impact of these rising costs.

Trend 2: Health & safety

Many of our visitors mentioned the evolving health & safety regulation that impacts the bakery industry. Health & safety experts around the world are highly aware of the risks posed to bakery operators who must work with powders, such as flour, enzymes and starch. It was a key topic for the Health & Safety Executive at the Federation of Bakers’ Conference 2018, but the UK is not alone in this concern. With occupational asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis all potential consequences of the weighing and handling process, regulators are cracking down on bakeries and setting lower maximum exposure limits.

Many bakeries are concerned not just with the health of their workforce, but also the potential expense that could be incurred by implementing further safety measures or the impact of the aforementioned higher labour costs if more employees are needed to reduce operator exposure time. There’s no getting away from powders in the bakery industry, so companies require a cost-effective solution to ensure operator safety without impacting the bottom line.

Trend 3: Digitalisation

Wandering around the many halls of the iba, it was clear to see that digitalisation had taken over almost every stand. Digital solutions and processes were unanimously recognised as the key development needed in the bakery sector - and not just at the packaging end. Robots carrying out tasks from pick and place to rolling dough are paving the way as this traditionally conservative industry starts to open up to the possibilities of the digital revolution to maximise profits, improve traceability and increase product and employee safety.

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Toast of the trends

Three seemingly disparate trends, but one solution: autonomous ingredient weighing and handling allows bakeries to tackle all three.

The APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling system is the world’s first robotic micro-ingredient weighing solution. Easy to integrate into existing bakeries, it allows you to conduct unmanned operations, helping to reduce your exposure to rising labour costs or freeing up your workforce to complete more value-added tasks. Unmanned weighing also helps to mitigate health & safety risks associated with your operators handling powders as they’re no longer exposed to the dangerous effects of dust. This is great news for your staff but also for the bottom line as you can significantly reduce PPE, ventilation and maintenance expenses.

The APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling system also allows you to improve efficiency and reduce waste, thanks to +/- 1g degree of accuracy, as well as improving traceability and product safety as the system eliminates the risk of cross-contamination.

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So if these trends affect your business, we need to talk! Our APRIL™ Robotics experts can help you revolutionise your bakery, cutting labour costs and removing a significant health & safety risk from the factory floor. Download our factsheet or get in touch for more information.

Double win for OAL at PPMA 2018

Innovative Vision Solution Award & Apprentice of the Year

PPMA awards

We’re very proud to announce that we took home two accolades at the PPMA Awards 2018. Our APRIL™ Eye system won the Innovative Vision Solution award, while Kyle Constable, Steam Infusion technical sales lead at OAL, was named Apprentice of the Year. We were also highly commended for our APRIL™ Robotics Ingredient Handling system! The awards recognise the finest examples of innovation, smart manufacturing and entrepreneurship in the UK food industry, and we’re delighted to have been acknowledged in three categories.

Eyes on the prize

APRIL™ Eye is the world’s first artificial intelligence vision solution. It fully automates the date code verification process to reduce the risk of product recalls and withdrawals caused by human error on packaging lines. The Innovative Vision Solution award celebrates equipment suppliers, system integrators or end users who have manufactured, designed or installed a clever, creative or innovative industrial solution. It’s fantastic that the PPMA appreciates how APRIL™ Eye can make a significant improvement to processes, safety, quality and efficiency and deliver cost savings to food manufacturers on their packaging lines.

By combining machine learning and artificial intelligence, APRIL™ Eye transforms the traditional date code verification process, which relies on operators to check the date code is printed correctly. APRIL™ Eye removes the human error inherent in these boring, repetitive tasks by reading back the date code, fully automating the date code verification process. The system can deal with variations such as lighting, positioning, print quality and placement to eliminate errors, protect consumers and the brand while at the same time reducing labour costs and waste - it’s the full package!

“You’re hired”

Acknowledging emerging talent within the food industry, the Apprentice of the Year award celebrates the most promising apprentice, and in particular their future leadership potential. Kyle Constable is a degree apprentice at OAL, helping UK and European food manufacturers adopt OAL’s Steam Infusion technology to ensure they maximise the benefits of the cooking process. With a strong background in the food industry having previously worked for Nestlé as a manufacturing apprentice, he is currently completing a degree in Food & Drink Manufacturing Operations Management at the University of Lincoln.

The award is designed to encourage more young people to take up careers in the industry, a cause that Kyle takes very seriously as he represents a success story of taking an apprenticeship route to gaining a degree qualification within the food industry and uses this experience to mentor students as part of the OAL CSR programme. It’s wonderful for Kyle to be recognised for such a prestigious award as it endorses his hard work combining studies with great performance at the company.

Harry Norman, owner of OAL, comments, “A double win at the PPMA awards - who could ask for more? We’re absolutely thrilled to win the Innovative Vision Solution PPMA Award and for Kyle to be recognised as the Apprentice of the Year. It really demonstrates to our peers the significance of the work that we’re doing and celebrates one of our team members and the valuable contribution that he makes, not just to our company but the industry as a whole.”  

We’re really making a difference at OAL. Want to join us on this journey? Get in touch to find out more about our award-winning solutions or if you want to be part of a team that values training and development, have a look at our careers page today.

It’s time to fix manual ingredient weighing at iba 2018

If you’re planning to visit iba 2018, you’ll be able to see our robotic ingredient handling solution in action for the first time. Did you know that manual handling and weighing of ingredients can cost bakeries up to one per cent of turnover? We’ve developed our patented robotic ingredient handling system to help you to tackle this problem, increasing your margins, as well as delivering improved accuracy and product safety.

We’re delighted to announce that the iba award judging panel has recognised the potential of our revolutionary ingredient weighing solution as we have been shortlisted for the prestigious iba award, with the winners to be announced at the show!

Robots on a roll

Our APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system offers a real alternative to bakeries that generally rely on operators on the factory floor to weigh out micro-ingredients. The system’s cells automatically weigh 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.

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Going against the grain

The reliance on operators to complete arduous weighing tasks in harsh, dusty working environments is a real problem for all involved. Health problems can ensue from working with powders, while bakeries are exposed to labour costs and the risk of errors that is par for the course when humans undertake repetitive tasks.

Traditional alternatives to labour have included mechanical, screw and auger based systems, yet they often don’t have the flexibility needed for large-scale bakeries working with many different ingredients. What’s more, common transfer lines in pneumatic conveying expose bakers to the risk of cross-contamination, not to mention the number of ingredients that these systems can't handle. Can a traditional system switch seamlessly from handling calcium propanoate to seeds? And how can bakeries deal with ‘free-from’ production with such limited tools?

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Rising to the challenge

This is where autonomous robotic ingredient handling comes in. Bringing unprecedented flexibility, you can significantly improve your profitability by fully automating your ingredient handling and storage, minimising human intervention and maximising traceability and accuracy.

The APRIL cells are simple and easy to use. Ingredients are decanted into dedicated APRIL Smart Containers (ASC) and stored in a robotic cell. Whole pallets of ingredients can be decanted and stored, significantly improving operator productivity and freeing their time for other activities.

The APRIL cell integrates with ERP systems, so you can import works orders automatically into the system. Live stock levels are reported back for accurate ingredient tracking, so the robot retrieves and manages the ingredients as required and weighs them out to your recipe. The recipe mixes are then presented at integrated retrieval stations. The APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling System combines exceptional storage density with very high flexibility. It’s easy to fit into existing bakeries and makes optimal use of the available area.

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Ready for a slice of the action?

OAL has a full-sized demo operating at its Peterborough facility. Systems are currently being installed and will be operational in European plants prior to a wider roll out in 2019. With unprecedented demand already, the team is focusing on applications where weighing takes place 24/7, maximising your return on investment.

My time as a work experience student at OAL

Why I chose to do work experience at OAL

Heading into my final year of sixth form, trying to determine what career path I want to go down is vital in helping me decide what my next steps are going to be, which is why finding a relevant work experience opportunity was very important to me. I chose to do my week of work experience at OAL as I am currently studying maths, chemistry and art at A-level and I wanted to look into careers that combine both maths and science. Engineering was a key area of interest for me and so when OAL came to my school to talk about what engineering involves, I was immediately drawn in.

Who is OAL?

OAL uses engineering to deliver solutions to key problems within the food manufacturing industry. They offer robotics, Steam Infusion technology and label and date code verification to help improve efficiency of production and to ensure compliance with codes of practice. OAL works with customers such as Bakkavor, Diageo and Heinz to help their factories run as smoothly as possible.

A week in the life of a work experience student at OAL

On the first day of my work experience, I was introduced to everyone and taken on a tour of the premises. I also spent time with the innovation department which was extremely interesting as I had the opportunity to see one of the robots in action and learn about the testing that goes into making these robots work. The following day I was taken on a trip to the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, where I saw an APRIL robot and was shown how this technology is used in the food industry.

“It was eye-opening to see how the topics I have learnt about at school are applied to real life situations.”

Seeing projects come to life

Project design was where I spent the day on Wednesday, learning about how mechanical and electrical drawings are produced and how vital these are in the running of factories. I took a particular interest in this department as I think it is fascinating that you can go from designing a part on your screen to seeing it be manufactured and used in real life.

An opportunity to delve into something new

The following days of my work experience were spent in project software, marketing and the OAL Connected department of the company, helping expose me to areas I didn’t know anything about and wouldn’t have found out about if it weren’t for this opportunity.

Why should you choose OAL for your work experience?

I would definitely recommend work experience at OAL to anyone who has an interest in engineering or doesn’t know what path to go down with their interest in science and maths. They provide an insight into engineering that you would never get to experience at school. Getting into contact with OAL was incredibly easy and they were very keen to have me for work experience, which I found extremely refreshing after struggling to find work experience in the past.

The people I met during my time at OAL were very helpful and knowledgeable, talking me through and explaining what they were doing even if they had important jobs to get on with themselves, which I greatly appreciated. I’d like to thank OAL for the experience they gave me and in helping me gain a clearer vision of what I would like to do with my future.

If this sounds like something you'd like to do, then get in touch by clicking below and they'd be more than willing to help.

OAL’s Jake Norman keynote speaker at Cambridge University's Open Innovation Forum

We’re pleased to announce we'll be sharing insights on "Flexible Food Manufacturing" at the University of Cambridge’s Open Innovation Forum. The event, hosted by Siemens, takes place on Wednesday 11th July 2018 and will be attended by industry experts from some of the largest food manufacturers in the world.

With rising labour costs, food manufacturers ability to adopt and successfully implement robotics and automation is critical to remaining flexible. Jake Norman, Head of Innovation at OAL will share how foodtech can offer food companies affordable flexibility.

The University of Cambridge’s Open Innovation Forum is a membership group where members share best practice, exploring key topics within the food and FMCG industry, collaborating ideas and networking at regular events. The idea of a collaborative approach allows the industry to share ideas, research and experiences to help the UK’s food manufacturing industry to become number 1 in the world for flexible and innovative manufacturing.

Current members of the forum include Mars, Pepsico, Moy Park and Samworth Brothers.

“It is a pleasure for OAL to be asked to speak at this event. We won the Open Innovation Food and FMCG Innovation Pitch back in 2015 and I’m excited to share our rapid progress. Our APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling System is a great place to start as it ensures your putting the right ingredients in the right quantities into your processes.”

— Jake Norman, Head of Sales at OAL

If you’re interested in the technology and are ready to get started, get in touch with our experts!

OAL to speak at Lincoln International Business School Industry 4.0 Event

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 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.

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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:

1. Chris Brett from Ocado technology shared how they were transforming food retailing with digital technologies.

2. Steve Sanders explained how JSP Safety Products had transformed its manufacturing processes with over 30 robots, onshoring jobs to the UK.

3. 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.”

— Director from a major UK food business

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

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.

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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 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.”

— Mark Dodds, Marketing Manager, Roythornes Solicitors

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! 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.