Food & Beverage
What Is Food & Beverage Automation?
Food & beverage automation refers to the use of automated systems, software and intralogistics technologies to optimise storage, picking, consolidation and shipping processes for grocery, ambient, chilled and frozen goods.
Automated systems help food and beverage companies manage high throughput requirements, strict quality standards, increasing product variety and shorter delivery cycles. From incoming goods to warehouse and distribution centre operations, automation supports efficient material flow, improved traceability and consistent performance across multiple temperature zones.
Technologies such as conveyor systems, ASRS, picking systems and warehouse software help improve operational reliability, inventory transparency and fulfilment efficiency.
Technologies Used in Food & Beverage Automation
Automation solutions in food and beverage logistics must support different temperature ranges, hygiene requirements and product characteristics. With modular system design, these technologies can be adapted to grocery distribution centres, production-related warehouses and multi-temperature facilities.
Conveyor Systems
Conveyor systems enable reliable internal transport of food and beverage products across ambient, chilled and frozen areas. They connect storage, picking, sorting and shipping zones, ensuring predictable material flow even during peak demand and seasonal fluctuations.
With components such as accumulation sections, merges and diverts, conveyor technology supports high throughput and safe handling of a wide range of load carriers.
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems
Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), including pallet and shuttle solutions, enable high-density storage and fast access to food and beverage products.
These systems support FIFO and LIFO strategies, batch tracking and efficient buffering, making them well-suited for grocery distribution, seasonal products and temperature-sensitive goods.
Picking Workstations and Goods-to-Person Systems
Ergonomically designed order picking solutions support efficient order picking in food and beverage logistics. Items are delivered directly to the workstation, reducing walking distances, manual handling and error rates.
These systems are particularly effective for high-order frequency, small quantities and mixed orders, which are common in grocery and food distribution environments.
Warehouse Management and Control Software (WMS)
Warehouse management and control software provides transparency and control across food and beverage intralogistics operations. Real-time data enables tracking of inventory levels, batch information and order status across different temperature zones.
WMS solutions also support compliance with regulatory requirements, enable KPI monitoring and integrate with ERP systems, forming the digital backbone of automated food and beverage logistics.
Case Study: Pallet High-bay Warehouse for Optimum Utilisation of Space at OTG
An automatic pallet high-bay warehouse makes maximum use of available space. Automation makes it possible to increase efficiency in warehouse operations enormously and to dispense with a large number of industrial trucks for warehousing and handling. The systems can be complemented by further automation solutions such as robot-based picking and palletising solutions.
Increasing production had made it necessary to expand the logistics centre for the Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft's (OTG) Lager- und Frachtkontor Süd (OLF Süd) facility [South Freight & Storage]. GEBHARDT took on this task and established a state-of-the-art logistics centre for OTG in Grettstadt, Bavaria.
Case Study: Multi-Deep Storage for Optimum Storage Density at Bosch Tiernahrung
Multi-deep storage systems offer a high degree of flexibility because warehouses can be organised on a last-in-first-out (LIFO) as well as on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis. This warehousing structure is the ideal solution in terms of space-saving storage for a large number of pallets. The system shows its advantages to the full when the warehouse channels can be filled purely according to type.
Bosch Tiernahrung [Pet Food] produces approximately 80 different in-house products which are exported to over 35 countries worldwide. This family-run company from Blaufelden-Wiesenbach in the Schwäbisch-Hall district not only places an emphasis on the high quality of its products, but also attaches great importance to customer-oriented service and a high level of delivery readiness.
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