Financial uncertainty, rising tariffs, and ongoing labor challenges are making it tougher than ever for meals producers to plan their subsequent transfer. However one Canadian potato chip maker discovered a option to increase productiveness, scale back prices, and keep flexibility—all with out hiring a single further employee.
A crunch-time choice that paid off quick
When this 100-employee snack meals producer first reached out to us, they weren’t robotics consultants. They simply knew one thing needed to change. Their manufacturing strains wanted revamping, upkeep was turning into a headache, and so they have been feeling the stress to remain aggressive in a troublesome market.
What began as a single automated palletizer undertaking rapidly turned a strategic funding. Utilizing our ROI calculator and an in depth wants evaluation, the corporate projected an 18-month payback. The actual outcome? Simply 16 months. That’s after they ordered their second palletizer.
They usually’re not alone. Increasingly meals producers are realizing that automation doesn’t need to be sophisticated—or dangerous—to ship actual worth.
Why the ROI beat expectations
Many producers calculate ROI primarily based solely on headcount financial savings. However this buyer rapidly found added advantages they hadn’t deliberate for:
- Decrease overhead from lowered handbook dealing with
- Extra constant manufacturing output
- Simpler upkeep, even with seasoning strains close by
- Diminished coaching time because of intuitive, easy-to-use robotics
What’s extra, they didn’t need to pause different initiatives to make automation work. Regardless of additionally investing in a brand new facility, they nonetheless managed to efficiently roll out the palletizing system with out disrupting manufacturing.
Flexibility that grows with you
A key purpose for his or her second buy? Flexibility.
Somewhat than locking them right into a inflexible structure, the palletizing system allowed them to reorganize 4 strains with out main prices. They now have two automated cells that may evolve with their wants over time—serving to them construct momentum with out dropping agility.
A phrase to fellow meals producers
As I all the time say, “Begin someplace. Even in unsure instances, investing in automation doesn’t need to be disruptive. Achieved proper, it’s a quick path to resilience.”
Meals producers throughout Canada are going through actual pressures. However automation isn’t nearly surviving—it’s about constructing a basis for development. When you’re questioning whether or not now could be the suitable time, run the numbers your self. Or higher but, see the total story behind how actual prospects are making it work.
