New unit to help drive automation & raise productivity for food companies

A unit will be set up to help drive automation and raise productivity for food companies in Singapore. 

It'll provide solutions and advice to companies, as well as technical expertise in the way they design and customise the process. 

The unit will develop and maintain a database of automation companies and equipment suppliers, and train and educate industry players on the latest technology and automation trends. 

At least 350 food companies are expected to benefit over the next three years from the unit, which will be set by the Food Innovation and Resource Centre at Singapore Polytechnic. 

Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan, who announced the initiative at a Food Manufacturing Productivity conference on Friday, pointed out that productivity in the industry lags behind those of countries such as the US, Japan and South Korea, even though there has been improvement. 

He said this stems from a lack of scale and investment in automation, as well as a reliance on a large base of low-cost workers. 

The food automation unit is part of a 45-million-dollar Food Manufacturing Productivity Plan launched by SPRING Singapore last year.

Over $6 million has been committed to more than 140 projects since the productivity plan was launched.