In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a frozen vegetable packaging company faced a growing challenge: finding and retaining workers for tedious, repetitive end-of-line tasks. Being in a rural area, their labor pool was limited, making hiring difficult and turnover high. To maintain and scale their operations, they turned to automation—and after two years of exploration, they finally took the leap.
The pain point: labor shortages and operational constraints
Running two shifts a day, six days a week, this company had a dedicated operator at the end of each of their four packaging lines. The problem? Recruiting and keeping people in these roles was an ongoing battle. They knew automation could solve this issue, but they needed a solution that made financial sense and fit within their space constraints.
Their ideal return on investment (ROI) target was 12 months, but given the severity of their labor challenges, they were willing to stretch to 18 months. In the end, the automation solution they chose came in just under their original 12-month ROI goal—making the decision an easy one once internal approvals were secured.
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Choosing the right automation solution
Beyond solving labor shortages, this company had three key automation requirements:
- Compact Footprint – A large centralized palletizer wasn’t an option. They needed a system that fit within their existing space while allowing for future expansion.
- Ease of Use – With no in-house robot programmers, they needed a system simple enough for their current employees to operate and troubleshoot.
- Scalability – Their SKUs varied in run rates, weights, and capacities, so they needed a flexible system that could handle diverse product types efficiently.
Over the years, our robotic capabilities evolved to meet their needs. The ability to perform multi-pick operations and handle additional weight made automation an even better fit. After seeing our solutions at Pack Expo for two years in a row, they knew we were the right partner.
The lesson: don’t wait to automate
This company, like many others, waited years before making the leap to automation. In hindsight, that delay cost them time and money. If they had implemented automation two years earlier, they would have already recouped their investment and seen additional efficiency gains.
For companies considering automation, the key takeaway is clear: Start early. Start small if needed, but start. Doing nothing means losing out on productivity, efficiency, and cost savings that could compound over time.
This company’s story is a testament to the power of automation in overcoming workforce challenges and setting the stage for long-term growth. If you’re facing similar struggles, don’t wait—explore your options today.
The post “Automating for growth: a no-brainer for this frozen food company” by Josh Davis was published on 03/13/2025 by blog.robotiq.com