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When it comes to the adoption of new technologies in the field of automation, the UK food industry is constantly accused of lagging behind other countries in western Europe.

And by way of an example, the 2006 World Robotics survey showed that in 2005 around 70 robots were sold to our food and beverage industry compared to approximately 3,500 in the same sector in Germany. 'The amount of automation is an embarrassment to UK manufacturing,' said David Bradford, managing director of automation solutions firm

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Fifteen months after that report, he said there are still frustrations with uptake of systems, though some companies have developed the vision to use automation as an effective cost-cutting tool. 'The technology is here, but getting people to use it is the challenge,' he said. But why are UK firms still lagging behind? 'This is partly down to lack of confidence in the economy, the influence of supermarkets and the length of their contracts, as well as taxation,' said Bradford. 'The rules in Germany allow expenditure to be offset against tax in a single year rather then having to be spread out — making investment more attractive.'