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As portions of the United States deal with challenging weather patterns, water conservation continues to become a more prominent issue.

In an orchestra, it’s up to the conductor to ensure that all of the instruments receive the direction they need to complete a melody.

When Geoff Soares, chief executive officer of Summit Beverage Group, Marion, Va., purchased the company back in spring 2013, he knew little about the beverage business, he says.

From family businesses to the largest multinational brands, many manufacturers rely on co-packers as a way to enhance production efficiencies and reduce costs.

Hollywood has shown both the endearing side of robots, such as in Walt Disney’s “Wall-E,” and the more feared versions from the “Terminator” franchise.

One of the most pressing problems affecting supply chains is an ongoing talent shortage, according to MHI, the Charlotte, N.C.-based material handling, logistics and supply chain association.

As brands expand their portfolios to include a variety of beverages, they require automated mixing and blending systems that are flexible enough to handle different types of batches efficiently.

When it comes to beverage operations, worker safety is one of the most important factors for companies to consider.

Last year was a record year for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), with AGV system sales reaching $140 million, according to the Material Handling Institute (MHI).

The beverage industry alone consumed 76 trillion British thermal units (BTUs) of energy in 2010, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.