Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has deployed Spot, an autonomous robotic inspection dog developed by Boston Dynamics, at its manufacturing sites in East Kilbride and Wakefield. The deployment represents the first integration of this robotic technology within the company’s Great Britain operations.

The robots will support local maintenance teams by conducting routine inspections across seven production lines, capturing operational data without requiring machinery downtime. The initiative follows a pilot phase in Barcelona and subsequent rollouts across nine CCEP sites in Spain, France, Germany, Australia, Indonesia, and The Netherlands.

Predictive Maintenance and Sensor Technology

At the UK facilities, Spot is configured to monitor almost 600 specific inspection points. Equipped with specialised sensors, the robots collect several types of operational data to assist engineers with predictive maintenance:

🔊 Acoustic and Ultrasound Analysis: Capturing high-frequency sound signatures to evaluate component wear and performance.

🌡️ Thermography Data: Monitoring temperature variations across machinery to detect overheating risks before component failure occurs.

🌀 Vibration Monitoring: Recording physical movement patterns to identify misalignment or mechanical fatigue.

The collected data is analysed using artificial intelligence visual language models. By transitioning from manual periodic checks to continuous, background data collection, the plant engineering teams can identify potential technical issues early and schedule targeted repairs to avoid unplanned downtime.

Efficiency and Sustainability Enhancements

Beyond mechanical reliability, the robotic deployment is integrated into CCEP’s energy conservation objectives. The advanced sensor packages allow the robots to detect compressed air and carbon dioxide leaks that are difficult to identify during standard manual inspections.

By locating these leaks and flagging equipment operating outside of nominal parameters, the technology helps plant operators reduce unnecessary energy draw and product loss, directly supporting site-level sustainability targets.

Chris Goodall, VP for Customer Service and Supply Chain at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, stated that the technology enables a proactive approach to facility maintenance. Goodall noted that by automating routine data collection, the site engineers can focus their expertise on high-value tasks, improving overall line reliability and efficiency.

Workforce Upskilling and Autonomous Operation

The integration of robotics has prompted a focus on technical skills development at the Wakefield and East Kilbride sites. Reliability engineers, automation specialists, and apprentices have undergone training to program and operate the robots, supporting long-term internal technical capabilities.

In terms of physical operation, Spot travels autonomously along preprogrammed routes within the manufacturing environment. The robot can operate for approximately 90 minutes on a single charge. After completing an inspection cycle, it returns to a docking station to recharge and automatically upload the compiled diagnostic data to the company's maintenance networks.

Marco da Silva, Vice President and General Manager of Spot at Boston Dynamics, added that the partnership leverages real-time sensors and visual language models to optimise energy efficiency and minimise unexpected machine breakdowns, supporting the transition toward highly automated production lines.