Industry 4.0: What it means for your business

Using robotics to improve our business operations - Irwin's Bakery (video)

Case Study

Founded in 1912 in Portadown, Irwin's (W.D. Irwin & Sons) is a third-generation family business and Northern Ireland's largest independent plant bakery. They supply a wide range of bread and baked goods to major retailers across the UK, Ireland and several international markets.

With over a century of trading under their belt, Irwin's recognise the need to innovate to keep ahead in a competitive market. Recently, they've sought to combine their traditional craft bakery skills with modern, state-of-the-art automation technologies.

In this case study, Irwin's Production Manager Aaron Harrigan explains how they implemented the first phase of their SMART bakery project, deployed robotics and achieved efficiency savings in their processes and supply chain.

Case Study

Aaron Harrigan

Irwin's Bakery

Aaron's top tips:

  • "Be patient and realistic about your timeline."
  • "Seek advice from relevant organisations or companies that have carried out similar projects."
  • "Engage as many people within your organisation to be a part of the journey."