Nestlé and Bosch woo food processing recruits

14-Mar-2013 - Last updated on 14-Mar-2013 at 17:06 GMT

Show visitors could view one of Bosch's Delta robots picking and placing Kit Kat chocolate bars

Nestlé has teamed up with Bosch Packaging Technology and trade body the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) to recruit young talent for the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.

The firms are participating in the Big Bang Fair in London, which runs from March 14-17. The event has been organised to celebrate science, technology, engineering and maths and attract seven to 19 year-olds and is expected to draw 65,000 young people in the UK.

Bosch’s Delta robot will be exhibited at the joint stand ‘Taste Success – a Future in Food’, with the aim of demonstrating its speed and efficiency. The robot will be showcased picking and placing Nestlé Kit Kat chocolate bars on a conveyor belt.

Bosch introduced its first Delta robot to the packaging industry more than 20 years ago. The latest 4-axes model operates at up to 150 cycles a minute.

‘Beat The Robot’

A game called ‘Beat The Robot’ will also run on the stand. It is intended to offer young people attending the show the chance to gain first hand experience interacting with technology used in the food industry.

Food and drink engineering will be a key theme of this year’s stand as the UK launches the first degree dedicated to the subject – MEng Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University.

Nestlé engineers, apprentices and graduates will be on hand to explain what their roles entail and visitors will be set games and challenges on the stand.

“As a partner to many manufacturers, we recognize the value that young people bring to the manufacturing industry, with their creativity helping the development of new products and services,” said Roy Fraser, product manager robotics, Bosch Packaging Technology.

‘Continue to drive innovation’

“Just as a team of students were involved in the design and build of our very first Delta robot, young engineers will continue to drive innovation in the Food and Drinks Industry. This highlights the importance of continuing to attract young people to the industry.”

Fraser said there were now about 2,500 Bosch Delta robots operating in the global food and drink market.

Richard Martin, chief engineer, Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “The food and Drink industry is central to all of our lives. As the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, it puts food on our tables and offers a variety of skilled and rewarding careers producing some of our most loved food products.

“Whether you are considering taking an apprenticeship, engineering or science degree, the food and drink sector is for you.”