The European confectionery industry is expected to reach a value of $189 billion in 2025, with the UK market alone contributing €15.4 billion (Statista, 2025). As the demand for premium, personalised, and healthy products rises, confectionery manufacturers must focus on efficiency, accuracy, and energy-saving solutions to remain competitive. Automation and AI systems are key to this transformation, enabling greater throughput, reduced waste, and enhanced quality control.
Realising The Benefits of Automation
From the enhancement of production speed to the reduced need for physical labour, confectionery manufacturers are realising numerous benefits through automation. Automated quality control systems are also ensuring more consistent product quality and enabling greater flexibility in the production process. This is expected to be an ongoing trend, with increased demand for automated processing equipment and the adoption of automated solutions.
Enhancing Throughput and Production Speed
Production speed optimisation is vital given the increasing levels of demand within the confectionery market. Accuracy must also be ensured, with variations in product size, weight and quality likely to cause customer dissatisfaction and negatively impact brand reputation.
Ishida’s advanced technologies satisfy such requirements, with our multi-head weighers setting the benchmark. Achieving speeds in excess of 420 weighments per minute, these industrial weighing machines ensure seamless high-volume production without compromising quality (Euromonitor Industry Trends, 2023).
The newly developed CCW-AS stands out in the delivery of such benefits. With added functions for improved productivity, this multi-head weigher effectively boosts overall equipment effectiveness and reduces the human workload. Integrated with Optical Charge Control, automatic adjustment of hopper open/close interval and new radial feeders, the CCW-AS enhances product feeding and maximises production output.
Optimising Precision & Waste Reduction
The integration of self-learning weighing and inspection technologies reduces overfill and giveaway by up to 20%, with a significant improvement in cost efficiency. Ritter Sport, for example, has streamlined its packaging process by integrating Ishida’s 24-head multihead weigher, which has enabled precise handling of varied product formats while reducing material waste (Ritter Sport Operational Review, 2023).
Increasing Energy-efficiency
With increases in energy costs, there’s a clear need for low-power, high-output confectionery manufacturing solutions. Ishida’s CCW-AS delivers here too, with the integration of high-efficiency hopper drive units and unique software making for a 20% reduction in power consumption when compared with previous models. The integration of robotics and AI systems is also enhancing precision, quality control, and packaging efficiency in confectionery manufacturing.
Advanced Systems by Ishida
Ishida is supporting the transformation of the confectionery sector through the development of advanced systems such as the Sentinel 5.0. Harnessing AI for the collection and analysis of machine data, this advanced system delivers the benefit of real-time performance monitoring. Learning from machine behaviour, it automatically alerts manufacturers to deviations and generates recommendations for improved production.
Ishida’s specialised weighing machines are also designed to overcome challenges in the handling of food and non-food products. Our high-speed weighers stand out as the optimal choice for the fast and accurate production of quality confectionery. Available in different formats to suit varying product consistencies, these advanced industrial weighing machines can operate at speeds in excess of 420 weighments per minute. Compatible with pick-and-place and boxing systems, they can be integrated as part of a complete production line.
Looking to the Future
The integration of automated solutions, such as those offered by Ishida, will be key in meeting the growing consumer demand for varied, high-quality confectionery products. Such systems will revolutionise how sweets are produced, packaged, and delivered. Automation will be vital for the scaling of production, avoidance of human error, and maintenance of quality as required for consumer satisfaction and regulatory compliance. It will ensure greater throughput, reduced waste, and improved profitability.
The transformation of confectionery manufacturing is being driven by automation, AI, and sustainability-focused innovations. Confectionery manufacturers that invest in smart technology, flexible production lines, and energy-efficient solutions are bound to gain a competitive edge.
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