Event: Appetite for Engineering 2019

05 July 2019

This year’s Appetite for Engineering event will once again take place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Ansty Park, Coventry, on 17th October.

The keynote speaker at the event this year will be Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, who will focus the importance of collaboration between processors, retailers and technology providers to accelerate the adoption of automation and digitalisation. This is vital in an industry that currently has automation levels at just 15% of where they really should be. Other presentations throughout the day will also focus on the importance of the industry’s wider uptake of technology solutions to help combat the growing issues surrounding the availability of manual labour and to help improve productivity figures and increase efficiency.

This year we have added a new feature to the event. In addition to hearing from the food industry about successful engineering projects, we have added panel debates to the mix, for both the automation technology and skills sections of the event. These will run on a ‘Question Time’ format with audience participation being positively encouraged! The automation panel will include Martin Miller, director of engineering & operations development at Allied Milling & Bakery; John Griffiths, engineering director at Princes Foods; Mark Foster, central engineering manager at Weetabix Food Company; and Nigel Stevens, feasibility design project manager at TSL Projects. They will be giving their views on all things relating to the adoption of technology, automation, and the smart food factory. More details on the skills panel will follow soon.

If you wish to participate in this debate and make your voice heard it is important to register now to ensure you reserve your place at the event. Go to www.appetite4eng.co.uk.