Plant & Works Engineering February/March 2023

News 6 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk February/March 2023 Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced a multi-year extension to its technological partnership with Warburtons to improve production at six of its manufacturing sites across the UK and mitigate the rising cost of energy and raw materials. Mark Yeeles, VP of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, commented: “Warburtons is one of the nation’s best-loved brands with a strong track record of innovation. I am delighted they trust us to continue with them on their optimisation and efficiency journey across their vast operational ecosystem.” Founded in 1876, Warburtons employs nearly 5500 people across the UK, producing and distributing over 2 million baked goods daily to 18,500 stores across the nation. Against the ongoing energy crisis, Warburtons is focused on optimising its operations to ease pressure and avoid passing costs onto its consumers. David Rimmer, Central Engineering Manager at Warburtons, added: “Warburtons’ longevity is owing to our constant commitment to innovation and our standards. Our work with partners such as Schneider Electric is a critical enabler of that longevity, by using products that allow our employees to turn data into insight products we will deliver improvement. By expanding the remit of our partnership with Schneider Electric, we’re confident that we will continue to scale our business and feed the nation sustainably, as we have been doing since 1876.” Using leading analytics technology developed by Schneider Electric and information technology company AVEVA, Warburtons can securely visualise data across all operations in a single information stream. The highly advanced AVEVA System Platform, supplied by AVEVA Select UK & Ireland, is designed to break down silos and provide a unified, real-time view of the respective facilities. This makes for better system design and maintenance, more agile decision-making, and more efficient, flexible, and profitable manufacturing. For example, through the live production information and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) data calculated by the system, Warburtons is targeting a 5% increase in yield in its bread-slicing operations. System implementation is being conducted by NeoDyne, a certified Schneider Electric Alliance Integration Partner, as a trusted expert in designing and integrating Schneider Electric’s products and solutions. The 24-month roll-out of the system started in late 2022 and is expected to be completed in 2024. Implementation at Warburtons’ Stockton-on- Tees facility has already been completed, with engineers reporting positive feedback from the site. Martin Farrell, Managing Director at Neodyne, explained: “This is another powerful example of how our partnership with Schneider Electric is helping to deliver a transformative industrial automation solution for a leading UK brand. Using our extensive expertise of installing Schneider’s advanced range of software and solutions, we’re keen to help Warburtons’ build on its longstanding business heritage.” Schneider Electric will be responsible for capturing, recording, and reporting on real- time process data, allowing Warburtons to optimise operations, improve quality, and reduce costs across its business. Schneider Electric deepens its relationship with Warburtons Manufacturing and Engineering Week (www.mandeweek.co.uk ) 2023 has added several new events for 2023 including, Smart Factory Expo and Drives & Controls events. The week beginning 5 June 2023 is Manufacturing & Engineering Week with the centrepiece exhibitions Design & Engineering Expo, Drives & Controls, Smart Factory Expo and Maintec taking place at Birmingham’s NEC on 7 and 8 June. Other related exhibitions are also taking place at the NEC during the week and these include Automechanika run by Messe Frankfurt plus Med-Tech Innovation Expo and TCT 3Sixty from Rapid News Group. In addition, the centrepiece exhibitions will be surrounded by a number of related activities such as digital days, factory visits and student tours. Among other events added for 2023 are the Sustainable Digitalisation Summit - an executive level conference for businesses with a turnover in excess of £100m and the SME Growth Summit for businesses with a turnover below £100m. These will run alongside a host of other events such as: The Manufacturer Directors’ Forum Breakfasts & Dinners; The Manufacturer Top 100; The Marketing to Manufacturers Night M&E week adds more events to its 2023 line-up