Automation for Dairy and Cheese Manufacturers

Rumiano Cheese Eliminated Manual Palletizing to Improve Throughput and Team Culture

“It was the level of support Formic provides. We don’t have to have someone trained in advanced robotics on site, and knowing that Formic can come to our aid when we need it fairly quickly was what drove our decision.” -Patrick Henson, General Manager at Rumiano Cheese / Masters Gallery

Sunrise Family Farms

Dairy & Cheese Automation FAQ #1: How do your automation systems hold up in cold storage and refrigerated dairy production environments?

Formic’s systems are built for durability and consistent uptime — even in temperature-controlled dairy facilities where cold, humidity, and condensation are part of daily operations. Whether your end-of-line stations sit in a cooler, near a brine tank, or just outside the packaging room, we configure each palletizer and case packer to match the thermal and operational realities of your floor. Our team handles environmental validation during scoping so that system performance remains stable — without needing washdown compatibility.

Dairy & Cheese Automation FAQ #2: Will the robot be able to handle the unique packaging formats we use for cheese blocks, shreds, or tubs?

Yes — and that’s where our custom scoping process shines. From 40-lb bulk cheese blocks, to multi-pack shredded pouches, to round dairy tubs — Formic’s case packers and palletizers are spec’d with the right grippers and end-of-arm tools to handle your exact packaging requirements. We work with your SKUs to ensure gentle handling, proper orientation, and reliable stacking — all without damaging seals or compromising presentation.

Dairy & Cheese Automation FAQ #3: How does automation help solve our staffing and ergonomic challenges in cheese and dairy operations?

Labor is one of the toughest parts of running a dairy facility — especially for physically taxing roles like end-of-line stacking or repetitive case packing. These jobs see high turnover, injuries, and absenteeism. With Formic, we automate those roles with robots that can handle repetitive lifting and movement across all three shifts — and we do it with no CapEx and no need to hire or train robot techs. Your team stays focused on higher-value tasks, while our systems take care of the heavy lifting — literally.