The food-processing sector has seen a healthy rise in plant construction, with a 9.29% increase in new building projects. This is the highest rate of growth in ten years.
Redevelopment
The area which has seen the largest development is renovation projects, rising by a significant 13.98%. Re-development projects include the expansion of buildings, equipment upgrades like replacing old or buying new Pneumatic conveying systems sourced from sites such as https://www.aptech.uk.com/pneumatic-conveying-systems to transport the products around the building safely and securely using gas powered technology. It is more cost-effective to stay in the same location, as new sites are hard to find and it is disruptive to an existing work force to uproot them.
Food safety
The other driving force behind modern redevelopment of food processing plants is the emphasis now placed on food hygiene and safety. New legislation under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), introduced by President Obama in 2011, saw the focus shift from dealing with food contamination to preventing it occurring. According to organizations such as the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the new legislation has been consumer driven. In the USA, where according to statistics, 50 million people become ill every year from the consumption of unsafe food, customers are much more savvy about their purchasing power. With most people now having access to online information, companies have become extremely protective about maintaining their good name.
Up-Cycle
There is a growing recognition within the processing sector, that realising ones’ existing assets makes economic sense and can be achieved by expanding facilities and modernising essential equipment.
Those looking to upgrade their equipment on a budget whilst still ensuring standards are high could source used food processing machines.
Market Trends
In today’s market, brands and quick moving trends dominate the shifting nature of consumerism. Processing firms have to keep abreast of changes in customer demand.
There is now a growing focus on the procurement of machinery used in the separation of certain allergen-causing foods. Contamination can be a costly outcome for the food industry, where reputation is everything. Also, consumers are demanding clearer and simpler labeling, forcing producers to address issues such as adopting more flexible manufacturing systems.
It does appear, however, that the sector is able to keep up with the demands of modern consumers by expanding and embracing automation.