CASE STUDY
A collaboration
between two
New Zealand
companies is
proving that
two is better than one when it
comes to finding sustainable
storage methods.
Christchurch-based company
Baker Boys is teaming up
with food handling specialist
FoodCap to trial one of their
latest inventions which will
drastically reduce their plastic
packaging waste – a reusable
food storage capsule.
As consumers demand more
sustainable alternatives, more
technology is being utilised to
help make that happen.
The storage capsule not only
reduces the amount of physical
labour required in the factory
but reduces the amount of
plastic waste created during the
production process.
Baker Boys' general manager
Dean Boston says this is
all part of the company
progressing towards being a
smart company.
The trial has bought up valuable
logistical challenges such as
figuring out how to empty
products from the capsules
without leaving residue, how
to modify the capsules to suit
hot ingredients and how to
provide an anti-microbial barrier.
However, in research and
development, sometimes failure
is a triumph and collaborations
like this allow for potential
issues to be ironed out.
With support from Callaghan
Innovation, FoodCap and
Baker Boys have had access
to networks, the discipline of
providing quarterly reports and
mentoring around research and
development.
FoodCap and Baker Boys’
collaboration benefits both
businesses and the industry
says food and beverage
group manager for Callaghan
Innovation, Katy Bluett.
“The ability to reach out and
work together on a disruptive
technology is one of New
Zealand’s innate strengths,”
she says.
companies to approach.
• Use digital twins to simulate
situations. For example, the
factory floor or supply/demand.
Callaghan Innovation has a Lean
2.0 programme which supports
companies proficient in Lean, to
move to the next level with IoT
approach.
• Add digital solutions to
analogue equipment with
raspberry pi type devices - there
is support available as well from
the Industry 4.0 hub, which has
a supplier’s map.
• Automation - Callaghan
Innovation has trial co-bots
that can be used if companies
are looking to investigate the
opportunity of using co-bots in
their manufacturing plants.
• Consider how IoT/automation
could work on the customer
service/demand side.
FOODCAP AND BAKER BOYS
FINDING A
PACKAGING
ALTERNATIVE
Difficult tasks like mussel processing are now being automated with I4.0 tools
With smart technology, producers can see where waste is occurring and act to minimise it
FoodCap’s latest invention – a sustainable food storage cap in use at the Baker
Boy’s factory