Guest blog: Oliver Deifel – Breaking bottlenecks

In many food production environments, the end-of-line segment still relies heavily on manual processes, writes Oliver Deifel, director global customer solution center, Bizerba.. Labelling, inspecting, stacking and palletising – all critical steps that are often performed by hand. Yet with rising quality standards, increasing demand for traceability and a growing shortage of skilled labour, this part of the production line is becoming a strategic pressure point.

A segment full of untapped potential

Often overlooked, the end-of-line segment is key to ensuring smooth, reliable and scalable operations. Automation here isn’t about replacing people – it’s about filling operational gaps, reducing physical strain and stabilising throughput. It’s about supporting teams where capacity is limited, and processes are repetitive or error-prone.

Why now?

The food industry is navigating complex challenges: hygiene regulations, staff shortages, fluctuating order volumes. Businesses that continue to rely solely on manual workflows risk inefficiencies, delays and inconsistencies. Automation offers a practical response – especially when it’s flexible, modular and precisely tailored to the realities on the shop floor.

Solutions that integrate, not isolate

As a global solution provider, Bizerba integrates automation technologies that align with real-world production needs. From high-precision labelling and inspection systems to smart line control and seamless data connectivity – we design and implement systems that make a measurable difference. One important area is robotic-assisted product handling. Tasks such as sorting, aligning or preparing goods for case loading and palletising can be automated using suitable systems – especially where consistent handling of delicate food products is required.

And we do it in a way that complements existing structures: scalable modules, configurable interfaces, and integration of technologies such as robotics and smart handling solutions from our technology partners. Software like BRAIN2 adds the layer of transparency and traceability today’s operations demand – enabling everything from quality audits to performance monitoring in real time.

Future-ready by design

Automation in the end-of-line segment is not a revolution. It’s a necessary evolution. It’s about building production environments that are agile, efficient and resilient – even when staffing is tight and customer demands are rising.

At Bizerba, we believe the key lies in thinking across the line – and acting where it matters most: at the intersection of people, processes and performance.