Man and robot work together in food processing

On Tuesday 1 October 2019 the field lab Smart Food Processing will be opened at Food Tech Park in Helmond. The field lab is specifically aimed at food processing companies and aims to familiarize entrepreneurs with the (im)possibilities of collaborative robots and other forms of digital automation. The spectacular opening ceremony will be performed by the mayor of Helmond, Elly Blanksma-van den Heuvel.

COTEMACO: optimal collaboration between man and machine

The field lab Smart Food Processing is part of the Interreg initiative COTEMACO, which focuses on cooperation between man and machine. Food processing companies are faced with a number of tough challenges:

- It is becoming increasingly difficult to find motivated production personnel.
- price pressure continues to increase due to increased competition
- Occupational health and safety and ergonomics are becoming increasingly important for staff and to retain staff.

Cobots (collaborative robots), working with people, can help SMEs meet these challenges.

With seven partners in Northwest Europe, Food Tech Brainport, in collaboration with High Tech NL, has launched the COTEMACO initiative, with the aim of familiarising food processing companies with the possibilities and impossibilities of cobots and of providing them with free guidance in their implementation.

The field lab Smart Food Processing is supported by more than 20 COTEMACO Technology Providers, with 10 demonstration set-ups and support in all aspects of implementation, such as feasibility, business planning but also employee satisfaction.

Programme opening on 1 October 2019

The opening of the field lab will take place on 1 October from 15.00 to 18.00 hours. Marielle Bordewijk, food designer and trend watcher, will give a keynote presentation on the 'Future of Food'. Afterwards, Mayor of Helmond, Elly Blanksma-van den Heuvel, will open the field lab in a surprising and spectacular way. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to visit the field lab and watch various robot set-ups while enjoying a snack and a drink.

Sign up

Would you like to attend the opening of the field lab on October 1st? You can register here.