Food manufacturers predict an increase in automation and robotics due to a need for more flexible machinery to run manufacturing lines more efficiently.
Food processing machinery continues to experience significant annual growth, increasing 11.3%, according to the “2017 Trends in Food Processing Operations” report, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, Reston, Va.
“Markets, channels and technology are changing the way consumers will purchase and consume food in the future,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president of market development. “Over the next 15 years, expect to see significant changes to food manufacturing and sourcing, such as shorter supply chains because of transportation expense, growth of local production, benefits of microtechnology and nanotechnology for more sustainable production of food and improved taste, as well as stronger competition for land use as food, fuel and fiber battle for space.”