From smart automation through to an optimised supply chain: At ProSweets Cologne 2025, innovative AI solutions will show how efficiency and flexibility can be redefined within the industry
The mega trends digital interconnectivity and artificial intelligence are increasingly heralding in a new era in automation. From the optimisation of the production processes through to the improvement of food safety: From 2 to 5 February, the exhibitors of ProSweets Cologne 2025 will demonstrate their know-how for the sweets and snacks industry and present AI tools that offer a host of opportunities for increased efficiency. The event and content programme comprising of o a series of lectures, panel discussions and practical examples of application will also enhance these themes. The participants will have the opportunity to get to know concrete solutions and innovative approaches for the implementation of AI in the production and the supply chain and gain valuable insights into the future of the industry.
From jelly products, toffee and caramel through to bonbons: Sweets impress over and over again with their exciting flavours. And anyone, who is looking for an alternative to chocolate and biscuits, can opt for crisps, pretzel sticks or peanut flips Since there are so many individual consumer preferences, the manufacturers have to rely on fast, flexible and economic production machines. At the same time, strong competitive pressure requires the continual optimisation of all production steps – from processing the raw materials through to the packaging. The lines have to precisely dose, mix and mould, while at the same time fulfilling the highest hygiene standards.
All of this demands highly automated machine concepts, like those showcased at ProSweets Cologne from 2 to 5 February 2025. With their portfolios the exhibitors in Cologne implement modular systems for the sweets and snacks industry that provide both the connectivity for existing as well as a high scalability for new plants. The focus here lies on the interplay between industrial robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) on the one hand and on the increased automation of the supply chain using AI on the other.
Process intelligence provides the necessary insights
The digitalisation enables companies to gather large amounts of data directly at process level. AI has the potential to generate complex information from this data so that sweets and snacks can be produced more efficiently while at the same time improving the quality of the products. Typical application scenarios include predictive maintenance and quality controls. In this connection, experts like Dr. Andreas Müller talk about technology-centred AI: “It normally works in the background, stabilises processes under variable conditions and emulates human decisions.” But what are the prerequisites for the successful use of AI? The owner and founder of stem-in-foodsafety.de will provide an answer to this question on the “Expert Stage” in Hall 10.1 on 4 February. Here, on all four days of the trade fair various aspects of the themes AI and machine learning will be examined from different perspectives in the scope of lectures and panel discussions. Visitors will learn in detail where the challenges in implementation lie and how these obstacles can be overcome – for example in the supply chain management section.
In this area, AI tools enable complete transparency of the processes in real-time. By using advanced algorithms they reveal hitherto hidden inefficiencies and deliver precise recommendations of action to increase the flexibility of the production and optimise the use of resources. In his lecture entitled “AI-based Supply Chain Planning for the Food Industry”, to be held on the Expert Stage on 4 February, Maximilian Köhler, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer Optiwiser A.I. Solutions GmbH, will explain which advantages this offers sweets and snacks producers. The key element here is the Predictwiser. Cloud, a fully-automated supply chain software that implements intelligent algorithms specially tailor-made for the food industry to determine the precise demand, the optimal inventory level and cost-optimal production volumes. “The solution is designed as a plug-and-play software that can be integrated in less than a week,” emphasised Köhler.
A special highlight in this section is the first ever Sweet Week Production Summit that is being staged on 3 February 2025. This event brings the exhibitors and visitors of both trade fairs together and presents first-class examples of best practice that demonstrate the implementation of AI tools for a cost-efficient and future-proof production. The theme “Process optimisation in production with the aid of AI” will also be addressed here in detail. The programme will be enhanced by short pitch sessions by suppliers exhibiting at ProSweets Cologne, followed by a matchmaking forum in the Networking Area that aims to promote the exchange between suppliers and interested parties and initiate concrete business relations.
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