In today’s food and beverage production environments, the pressure never lets up: cut labour costs, boost throughput, and stay compliant all at once.
“Automation” is often treated as a buzzword or a massive capex project, but more production and operations managers are discovering value in a different approach: practical automation.
This is not about rebuilding your line from scratch. It is about spotting the manual tasks that eat time, introduce risk, and strain your team, and upgrading just those areas with smarter systems.
The Labour Challenge in Food & Beverage
Labour shortages remain one of the industry’s biggest hurdles. Whether it is finding skilled operators or maintaining efficiency during staff turnover, managers are under pressure to do more with less.
Manual processes, especially around labelling, inspection, or product handling, leave lines vulnerable to bottlenecks, errors, and compliance risks.
That is where targeted, labour-saving automation can make a tangible difference.
Small Upgrades, Big Impact
Here are three areas where production teams are seeing fast ROI from practical automation:
1. Labelling Systems That Just Work
Manual label application slows lines and drives up rework. Semi- or fully-automated labelling can:
- Ensure consistent placement
- Reduce rejects and downtime
- Handle variable data like batch codes and expiry dates with ease
Modern systems also integrate with existing conveyors, which makes setup straightforward.
2. Conveyor Upgrades with Smarter Product Handling
Too many lines still depend on operators to adjust bottles, pouches, or cartons by hand. Smart conveyor upgrades with guides, gapping units, and reject mechanisms can:
- Minimise stoppages
- Improve spacing and flow
- Eliminate repetitive manual adjustments
3. Vision Systems for Label & Pack Verification
Manual checking is time-consuming and inconsistent. Entry-level vision systems can:
- Detect missing or incorrect labels
- Flag print quality issues
- Verify barcodes and allergen information with more speed and accuracy than any manual process
Real Results from Targeted Automation
At ALS Identify, we have seen first-hand how small changes can create big wins. For example:
- A tamper-evident labelling project increased quality and speed of production with the investment was paid back in 8 months
- Conveyor retrofits improved product spacing without disrupting production
- Vision systems added compliance checks with no extra labour required
These were not massive overhauls. They were smart, practical upgrades that delivered measurable results.
You Do Not Need to Automate Everything
One of the biggest myths about automation is that it requires a complete rebuild. In reality, the most effective projects often start small and build over time.
These upgrades are also scalable. Each project can stand alone or form the foundation for wider automation strategies as your production needs evolve.
We help producers identify the right starting point, design around their existing line, and scale when they are ready.
Ready to Explore Practical Automation?
If you are under pressure to cut costs, reduce waste, or free up your team for higher-value work, practical automation could be the answer.
Book a 20-minute discovery call with our engineers to explore where small automation could make the biggest impact on your line.
Or, if you are still exploring your options, download our Product Handling Automation Buyers Checklist to see what to look for when planning your next investment.
Why ALS Identify?
ALS Identify has supported food, beverage, and pharmaceutical producers across Ireland for more than 20 years. With in-house design, build, and service expertise, we deliver automation solutions that are practical, scalable, and tailored to your line.
