Customer discussions at Fruit Logistica confirmed this clear shift in the market, said Fam Stumabo
Labour scarcity is fuelling demand for automated processing solutions for fresh-cut and prepared foods according to Fam Stumabo. According to the company, discussions with customers at last week’s Fruit Logistica confirmed a clear shift toward validated, application-driven cutting solutions that optimise operations and protect margins.
“Labour scarcity stopped being cyclical. Processors now assume permanent difficulty in recruiting and retaining skilled operators. This structural acceleration drives demand for automation, integrated lines, and machines that reduce manual handling and operator dependency,” said Guy Baeten, Fam Stumabo’s strategic director.
The company said customers increasingly expect cutting solutions to integrate seamlessly with infeed, inspection, and downstream processes to ensure consistency, production speed, and predictability. “Human errors must be avoided at all costs; cut shape adjustments and/or tool changes must be easy and straightforward. Quality consistency has become a non-negotiable requirement,” it noted.
Processors are also navigating increasing SKU fragmentation, shorter production runs, and greater variability in raw materials across seasons, origins, or suppliers.
“In this environment, cutting is no longer viewed as a mechanical step. It has become a critical driver of quality, yield, and downstream performance. Uniform cuts and controlled cell damage directly influence shelf-life, visual appeal, and processing stability, making cutting precision central to protecting margins and brand value as throughput increases and raw materials vary,” Fam Stumabo said.
The company added that in today’s cautious investment climate, processors increasingly prioritise predictability and proof over novelty and avoid complexity whenever possible. Investment decisions are driven by validated outcomes, realistic performance commitments, and technologies that reduce operational and financial risk.
It said customers are looking for partners with deep application knowledge who can analyse their specific situation. They want to test solutions on their own products and validate performance before committing to an investment. Processed products must be delivered on time, every day.
“Test labs and customer trials allow processors to move from assumptions to evidence. They can validate cut quality, yield, throughput, and product behaviour on their own raw materials,” Baeten continued.
Fam Stumabo delivers complete cutting solutions built around product behaviour, target geometry and line conditions, supported by modular platforms that allow customers to grow step by step. Machines and blades are designed and produced in-house, ensuring full control over cutting geometry, quality, and performance across fruit, vegetables, potatoes, and other food applications.
Rather than signalling a return to aggressive capacity expansion, Fruit Logistica 2026 confirmed a clear focus on stabilising and optimising existing lines. Key themes included strong demand for machines that can absorb raw material variability while maintaining cut quality and for flexibility that supports product diversity without destabilising operations.
Equally important is access to global support combined with local testing and regional expertise. “Heavy investment in test labs and consignment machines – both within the company and across our partner network – has always been part of the company’s DNA. Our expanded facilities in Spain, Germany, and the US reinforce its ability to combine global standards with solutions tailored to local products and processing realities,” Fam Stumabo said.
These hubs enable local cutting trials, more relevant validation of cutting results, and consistent support for customers operating across regions. Equipment can also be sent to a customer’s location for inline testing under real-life processing conditions.
“As we move into 2026, Fam Stumabo’s role centres on helping processors translate product ideas and market demand into repeatable, industrial reality,” Baeten concluded. “Our company’s value lies in combining cutting technology with deep application insight, so processors achieve predictable output, protected yield, and consistent quality at scale.”
