This Travel Factory is Being Trialled by Unilever in The Netherlands
Michael Hemsworth — January 19, 2021 — Business
Factories often require ample space and can be far removed from the area they provide product to, but this travel factory is being trialled by Unilever in The Netherlands in a bid to offer hyper-local product manufacturing.
The compact food factory operates inside a 40-foot sea container that is presently being used for producing the brands liquid bouillon for Unilever's Food Solutions business. The brand says that the production capabilities of the mini factory would be expanded to make a range of additional food products in the future including mayonnaise, ketchup and even ice cream.
Unilever Engineering Manager and Project Lead for the travel factory Olivera Trifunovic spoke on the initiative saying, "This travel factory reflects a new dynamic model where thousands of nano factories could be run from a central system, allowing us to have flexible production lines wherever, and whenever, needed. I’m incredibly proud of our team who have worked so hard, and so quickly, to bring this start-up to life.”
The compact food factory operates inside a 40-foot sea container that is presently being used for producing the brands liquid bouillon for Unilever's Food Solutions business. The brand says that the production capabilities of the mini factory would be expanded to make a range of additional food products in the future including mayonnaise, ketchup and even ice cream.
Unilever Engineering Manager and Project Lead for the travel factory Olivera Trifunovic spoke on the initiative saying, "This travel factory reflects a new dynamic model where thousands of nano factories could be run from a central system, allowing us to have flexible production lines wherever, and whenever, needed. I’m incredibly proud of our team who have worked so hard, and so quickly, to bring this start-up to life.”
Trend Themes
1. Hyper-local Product Factories - The trend in localized product manufacturing presents opportunities for compact and portable production methods for a variety of goods.
2. Nano Factories - The development of central systems to run thousands of nano factories presents disruptive innovation opportunities in flexible and efficient production lines.
3. Compact Food Factory - The compact food factory represents a new model of hyper-localized food manufacturing that could revolutionize the way food is produced, transported, and consumed.
Industry Implications
1. Food Manufacturing - The food manufacturing industry could benefit from compact and portable production models that allow for hyper-localized production and distribution.
2. Logistics and Supply Chain - Efficient logistics and supply chain solutions will be necessary for the widespread adoption of hyper-local manufacturing and distribution models.
3. Consumer Goods - Consumer goods industries such as cosmetics and personal care could benefit from localized production methods that offer customization and hyper-localized product offerings.
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