Robotics firm brews up six-figure packaging machine for Tetley tea line

Robotics company Sewtec has created a six-figure bespoke packaging machine for Tata Global Beverages.

The Dewsbury-based firm’s new technology has now been installed in Tata Global Beverages’ factory in Eaglescliffe, bringing a new Tetley fruit tea product line to market.

The Tetley brand, which operates across 40 countries worldwide, is now able to pack 2,000 tea bags every minute with this new automated system.

Designed and manufactured by Sewtec engineers, the fully automated and bespoke machine was created to Tata Global Beverages’ exact specifications and will be used exclusively by the company.

Mark Cook, Sewtec managing director, said: “Establishing an efficient production process is crucial for any food and drink business, and this really is best achieved through a bespoke and automated approach.

“It’s very rewarding to have produced a highly effective solution which meets the company’s requirements and will underpin its ongoing success.”

Sewtec designs and manufactures factory automation systems for global blue-chip clients in the food and beverage industry.

John Bishop, Tata Global Beverages’ engineering manufacturing manager, said: “This has been a milestone 180th year for the Tetley brand. We continue to implement our successful strategy of entering new categories, energising product development and extending our global footprint in the tea segment.

“Automation is vital to our manufacturing process, now and in the future. We appointed Sewtec because of its outstanding reputation in delivering bespoke automated solutions for the beverage industry. Our machine has already enabled us to bring a new product to market and will allow us to work faster and more effectively from our state-of-the-art facility.”

Headquartered in India, Tata Global Beverages has a turnover of £762m, employs more than 3,000 people and provides 330 million servings of beverages worldwide every day.

Last summer, Sewtec had a record £25m order book, the highest the company has achieved since it was founded in 1982. This strong performance means the company is on track to achieve its aim of doubling turnover to £32m by 2022.