A Bürkert technician calibrates a smart control head, enabling valves to communicate and operate seamlessly via digital interfaces.
New Zealand’s food and beverage manufacturing industry – a cornerstone of the national economy – is under mounting pressure. Rising operational costs, stringent sustainability demands, and the need for heightened efficiency are forcing manufacturers to rethink how they operate. At the core of this transformation lies one decisive tool: automation.
While terms like ‘Industry 4.0’ once symbolised the future, they are now considered dated by many in the sector. The real frontier has moved well beyond smart sensors and factory data and today’s challenge is keeping pace with AI-driven decision-making, cloud-connected operations, and scalable network solutions. For manufacturers still reliant on traditional systems, the digital gap is widening rapidly.
“Many businesses are still weighing whether to upgrade their legacy infrastructure,” says Steve Richardson, sales manager at Bürkert New Zealand. “But in doing so, they risk falling further behind as technology continues to accelerate. To ensure a thriving future, New Zealand food manufacturers must embrace innovative automation solutions. By doing so, it secures the future of our food industry.”
Adopting advanced automation and networked capabilities isn’t simply a matter of modernisation but a strategic response to some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. Digitally connected systems allow for improved accuracy, smarter diagnostics, and significant energy savings. These gains are particularly important as manufacturers face increasing scrutiny around carbon emissions, water usage, and waste.
In his influential 2019 Earle Lecture, Dr Kevin Marshall underlined the urgency for New Zealand’s food sector to adopt emerging technologies. His message was clear: innovation is essential not only to maintain global competitiveness, but also to meet rising expectations in premium international markets where sustainability is paramount.
Bürkert, which has served New Zealand’s food and beverage manufacturers for over four decades, is helping companies navigate this transformation. Its automation solutions enable centralised control of processes, delivering real-time performance insights that support predictive maintenance and continuous process improvement. The results are tangible: reduced downtime, enhanced product consistency, and optimised resource use.
“Networked upgrades offer the ability to centralise plant operations,” Richardson says. “They give you visibility into your system like never before and that’s what makes real operational efficiency achievable.”
As the global food landscape evolves, so too must the technologies that power production. For New Zealand manufacturers, the path forward lies in embracing automation not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Doing so, says Richardson, will not only drive economic resilience but also ensure the country remains a leader in high-quality, sustainable food manufacturing for years to come.
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Sponsored content: For more information phone 0800 2875 372, email sales.nz@burkert.com or visit www.burkert.co.nz.
