• The tna intelli-assist leverages XR and simulation technologies to enable teams to create digital twins of their manufacturing site.
    The tna intelli-assist leverages XR and simulation technologies to enable teams to create digital twins of their manufacturing site.
Close×

As part of its drive to continue to bring innovative technology solutions to the food industry, TNA Solutions has launched an immersive, interactive digital service to deliver high-impact projects with minimal risks and costs.

From replacing or integrating capital equipment into an existing line to designing a brand-new facility, the launch marks the first time that a fully integrated extended reality (XR) solution has been available to food manufacturers as part of TNA’s evolution to Industry 5.0 solutions.

The tna intelli-assist leverages XR and simulation technologies to enable teams to create digital twins of their manufacturing site, including equipment, utilities and buildings, and demonstrate how the new additions can best fit into their set-up with minimal disruption and optimal designs.

Food manufacturers can use the tool to visualise their plant floor, virtually replace systems and validate manufacturing plans and installations in a low-risk environment. Visualising potential spatial conflicts and utility interferences ensures optimal clash prevention.

To enhance collaboration, tna intelli-assist also integrates remote meetings into the virtual environment with VR headsets or through a desktop application.

Multiple people can seamlessly join the plant simulation via their preferred medium to preview the project and directly interact with the digital twin, making the process of stakeholder buy-in and troubleshooting more efficient.

“Much of food manufacturing has readily adopted Industry 4.0 technologies due to the efficiency, productivity and repeatability benefits they offer,” explained Natasha Avelange, global extended reality manager at TNA Solutions.

Natasha Avelange, global extended reality manager at TNA Solutions.
Natasha Avelange, global extended reality manager at TNA Solutions.

“Building on this with XR allows the human element of food manufacturing to be enhanced, with creativity, productivity and problem solving brought together without barriers. This is the essence of Industry 5.0.

“Food production is an area where there is a continuous drive towards higher output, greater efficiency and continuous uptime. That’s why it’s so important that equipment upgrades or introductions are well-planned and delivered as efficiently as possible.

“With tna intelli-assist, we’ve innovated a way to significantly shorten project planning time, and improve accuracy, enabling teams to get integration right the first time.”

According to Thiago Roriz, chief operating officer at TNA Solutions, as a forward-thinking company committed to innovation, the company is proud to integrate Industry 5.0 technologies, particularly in VR, into its project management process.

“By harnessing the power of VR, we are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also empowering our teams to collaborate more effectively, train in immersive environments, and optimise production in real-time,” Roriz said.

“These advancements directly translate into a more responsive and agile approach to customer needs, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions faster and more effectively. This step marks a significant evolution in how we integrate cutting-edge technology with human-centred design, ensuring that it serves not only operational goals but also drives customer satisfaction.

“With Industry 5.0, we are ushering in a new era, one that balances advanced automation with the ingenuity of the human touch."

Users are introduced to the programme through TIATM, the virtual guide and mascot of tna intelli-assist, which helps users to navigate the platform, streamlining onboarding by handling various tasks.

Food manufacturers can use the tool to visualise their plant floor, virtually replace systems and validate manufacturing plans and installations in a low-risk environment.
Food manufacturers can use the tool to visualise their plant floor, virtually replace systems and validate manufacturing plans and installations in a low-risk environment.

Food & Drink Business

Inghams has returned to volume growth with reduced dependence on Woolworths but net profit fell 61.5 per cent to $34.6 million as input cost inflation, first half production inefficiencies and a tax provision weighed on FY26 earnings.

Endeavour Group’s decision to reset shelf prices at Dan Murphy’s has restored sales momentum but taken a heavy toll on earnings, with annual profit down 87.8 per cent to $52 million for FY26 after $372 million in pre-tax significant items covering restructuring, asset writedowns and the exit from its winery portfolio.

Food and beverage businesses that delay adopting AI, precision agriculture, digital modelling and fermentation technologies risk being locked out of the commercial opportunities attached to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a new perspective paper from Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) says.