In this episode of Industrial Edge, host Lacey Chandler welcomes Amy Sihto, President of El Dorado Almonds, to discuss the high-stakes world of agricultural automation. Recorded at the 2024 Almond Board Conference, Amy shares how her facility in Madera, California, has survived a challenging market by prioritizing extreme efficiency.

Amy reveals the staggering impact of a recent inshell line upgrade: by implementing a single optical sorter and one robotic palletizer, El Dorado Almonds was able to eliminate 17 manual positions, significantly reducing labor costs and human error while achieving a rapid return on investment (ROI). They also dive into the shifting California agricultural landscape, the reality of “robots taking jobs,” and why constant automation is the only path to survival for modern food processors.

Key Topics in This Episode:

• Staying Alive through Efficiency: How El Dorado Almonds uses technology to open new markets and maintain a cleaner product 01:34 
• The ROI of Robotics: A detailed look at the inshell line upgrade that replaced manual hand-sorting and stacking with a robotic palletizer 02:11 
• The Human Element: Amy’s candid perspective on reliability, workforce shifts, and why she “hangs on” to employees who want to be cross-trained 06:54
• Planning for the Future: Why El Dorado aims to automate at least one major process every year to stay competitive over the next 5 to 20 years 08:34 
• California’s Ag Landscape: Addressing the pressures of SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) and water scarcity on almond throughput 09:04
  
  

Connect with our guest:

Learn more about El Dorado Almonds.

Explore the automation solutions mentioned in this video at Chandler Automation.

#IndustrialEdge #AlmondProcessing #Robotics #AgricultureTechnology #ROI #ManufacturingEfficiency #ElDoradoAlmonds #ChandlerAutomation #FoodSafety

Video Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Meet Amy Sihto: President of El Dorado Almonds

01:34 The Importance of Facility Efficiency

02:11 Upgrading the Inshell Line: 3U Sorter & Robotic Palletizing

04:11 Project Management and Follow-Through

05:38 Future Investments: Automating the Packline

06:54 The Reality of Automation and the Workforce

08:34 Long-Term Vision and Competitive Strategy

09:36 Closing Thoughts