Sunrise Family Farms, located in Norwich, New York, has been a staple in the community for over 25 years. Founded by Dave Evans and now led by Charlie Reinshagen and Roland Klimm, the creamery specializes in crafting yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk from locally sourced milk. Drawing on three generations of dairy farming, Sunrise has grown from its humble beginnings in Evans’ backyard to a thriving operation just down the road.
As demand for their products increased and operations expanded, Sunrise faced the challenge of scaling up while maintaining the essence of what made the company unique. The solution? Embracing automation as a way to enhance efficiency and prepare for the future, without losing sight of their roots.
Charlie Reinshagen and Roland Klimm, the current leaders of Sunrise, recognized the importance of automation in keeping up with demand while preserving the company’s identity. They viewed automation as a tool to complement tradition and drive growth and innovation.
The decision to implement automation was not made lightly. Sunrise had already experienced the benefits of automation with their bottle handling and bulk filling lines. However, the manual stacking line proved to be a bottleneck in their operations, leading to the need for a more efficient solution.
A pivotal moment came when Reinshagen expressed his readiness to invest in automation by stating, “I will not retire until you get me a robot.” This statement signified the company’s commitment to embracing new technologies to ensure future success.
To ensure a smooth transition to automation, Sunrise actively involved their team in the decision-making process. By seeking input from employees on where automation could streamline operations and drive efficiencies, the management team fostered a sense of ownership and buy-in among staff members.
The introduction of a robotic palletizer not only alleviated the physical strain on employees but also improved efficiency and reduced errors in the stacking process. By automating repetitive tasks, employees were able to focus on more meaningful aspects of their roles, leading to overwhelmingly positive feedback from the team.
Sunrise’s partnership with Formic and their Full Service automation model provided a low-risk way to deploy automation without upfront capital investment. This approach allowed Sunrise to scale their automation efforts gradually, gaining experience and confidence along the way.
Looking ahead, automation will play a central role in shaping Sunrise’s future operations. By strategically embracing technology and focusing on talent development and continuous improvement, the company aims to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Sunrise serves as a roadmap for businesses looking to scale with purpose through automation. By adopting the right mindset, partnering with the right technology provider, and implementing automation strategically, companies can transform their operations and gain a competitive edge in the market. Connect with Formic today to start your automation journey and unlock new possibilities for your business.
