JBS Foods Canada Announces Automation Partnership with Scott Technology

JBS Foods Canada is pleased to announce that it is partnering with robotics and automation company Scott Technology to develop a fully automated warehousing system for the Brooks beef production facility.

“We are excited about this partnership and the benefits the new system will provide to both our customers and our business,” said David Colwell, JBS Foods Canada president. “This state-of-the-art solution creates an opportunity to increase efficiency and promote a safe working environment for our team members.”

The $71 million project includes the design and build of a system capable of handling and storing 85,000 boxes of food products. The system will manage 600 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) in a highly flexible manner, allowing for optimized order management. It will enable picking of 3,000 cartons per hour, shipping of 40,300 cartons per day and high-speed palletising of 120+ pallets per hour. It will integrate with Warehouse Execution Software for complete monitoring, management and control of goods.

“This new system will help reduce storage costs and errors, and deliver improved inventory turns, while also improving worker safety as one box can weigh up to 110 pounds,” said John Kippenberger, Scott Technology CEO. “It represents significant efficiencies and cost savings for JBS Foods Canada and will be the largest project of its kind for Scott to date.”

The new Scott automated solution will replace a fully manual system, increasing product handling efficiencies by allowing more flexible, high speed carton sortation and management.

The JBS facility in Brooks is one of the largest beef processing facilities in Canada, employing more than 2,800 people, with an annual payroll of more than $140 million. The beef facility supports more than 500 local producers, paying them $1.6 billion per year for their livestock.