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Published On 30/06/2025

Bizerba, FANUC, KILIVATIONS and Schmalz Form Strategic Alliance to Automate the Food Industry

Balingen, 30/06/2025

| Bizerba, FANUC, KILIVATIONS and Schmalz are taking their collaboration to the next level at automatica 2025 – with the official announcement of their strategic partnership. The goal of the alliance is to drive the development and implementation of forward-looking automation solutions for the food industry – practical, innovative and customer-centric.

The market is increasingly moving towards continuous line production. Yet many companies still face manual challenges in the so-called End-of-Line area – where food products are labelled, inspected, stacked or palletised after packaging. Growing labour shortages are increasing the pressure to act. This new partnership addresses these challenges with a holistic solution approach.
 

Complementary Expertise for the Entire Line Process

Each partner contributes its specific know-how to the alliance: Bizerba is responsible for weighing, labelling, slicing and inspection technologies and takes on the role of system integrator. FANUC contributes cutting-edge robotics and control technologies. KILIVATIONS brings years of expertise in the development of robotic applications and automation solutions. Schmalz adds extensive knowledge in gripping and vacuum technology – tailored specifically to the requirements of delicate food products.

At automatica 2025, the four companies presented a first milestone of their partnership: a modular, fully automated sandwich station for hygienic, contact-free handling of fresh food. The system combines precise slicing technology with state-of-the-art robotics, advanced vacuum gripping systems and high-precision dosing – enabling pinpoint production of snacks “on demand”, contactless and efficient.
 

Future-Ready Automation through Industry Know-How and Interdisciplinary Expertise

A wide range of promising projects is already underway – focusing on product handling, case loading and palletising in the End-of-Line area of the food industry. Bizerba acts as the central point of contact and integrator of the overall solution.

Oliver Deifel, Director Global Customer Solution Center at Bizerba, emphasises: “This strategic partnership is a perfect match and a key element of our Bizerba strategy to deliver holistic solutions for the food market. Our goal is to transform the entire line process downstream of the packaging machine into continuous, scalable automation concepts. As the central integrator, we combine our own portfolio with the specialist knowledge of our partners – efficient, future-ready and customer-focused.”

The combination of deep industry knowledge, technological excellence and many years of experience across industries makes this new alliance a powerful driver for transformation in food processing.

More information on the strategic partnership and Bizerba’s automation solutions

Press release: 

From left to right: Oliver Deifel (Bizerba), Jaron Kilian (KILIVATIONS), Thomas Lichtenberger (Schmalz), Jonas Kilian (KILIVATIONS) and Ralf Winkelmann (FANUC) present their joint partnership to drive automation in the food industry at automatica 2025.
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About Bizerba

Bizerba is one of the world's leading suppliers of precision products and integrated solutions for slicing, processing, weighing, testing, order picking, labeling and payment. As an innovative company, the Bizerba Group is continuously driving forward the digitalization, automation and networking of its products and services.

In this way, Bizerba offers its customers from trade, commerce, industry and logistics greater added value with complete state-of-the-art solutions. From hardware to software, apps, and cloud solutions, all complemented by the appropriate labels or consumables, Bizerba adheres to the motto 'unique solutions for unique people'.

Bizerba was founded in 1866 in Balingen / Baden-Württemberg and is today one of the top players in 120 countries with its solutions portfolio. The family-run company, now in its fifth generation, employs around 4,500 people worldwide and has production facilities in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Serbia, UK, China, Canada and the USA. In addition, the group of companies maintains a worldwide network of sales and service locations. Further information about Bizerba can be found at www.bizerba.com.

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