Aurora Process Solutions

A 1896 flour mill just got a robotic upgrade

At the historic Ngapara flour mill in rural North Otago, Scott Simpson Contracting runs a growing stockfeed business. Original milling equipment from 1896 still sits inside the building, now sharing the floor with cutting-edge robotics.

The challenge was a familiar one for rural New Zealand: as the business grew, so did the physical toll of handling and stacking heavy stockfeed bags, and manual labour was getting harder to find. Scott partnered with Aurora to solve it.

The solution: a Fuji Robotic Palletizer, built onto a New Zealand-made skid system with custom controls.

What it delivers:
- Automatically stacks finished bags onto pallets, ready for distribution nationwide
- Takes the physical strain off staff and reduces reliance on manual labour
- Simple to operate, with the reliability Fuji robots are known for worldwide
- Mounted on a relocatable skid, so it can move or be reconfigured as the business grows
- Ongoing local service and support from the Aurora team

A 128-year-old mill and next-generation robotics, working side by side. Proof that automation isn't just for greenfield sites - it can breathe new life into the buildings already doing the work.

Aurora is at Seed Business 2026 in Melbourne this week (18–20 August).

Brent Hoyle is on the ground, swapping ideas with subject matter experts from across the sector on where agri-automation is heading next, from bagging through to end-of-line palletizing.

If you're at Seed Business and want to talk through your packaging or process challenges, come find Brent on the Aurora stand. He'd love to chat.

Project Spotlight: SGT Dan Stockfoods

Innovation isn't just for new facilities. Sometimes it's what transforms existing ones.

SGT Dan Stockfoods in Gore partnered with Aurora to automate a labour intensive bagging and palletising process inside their historic manufacturing facility.

The solution included a Fuji Robotic Palletizer Skid and an electronic gross weigh bagging system, purpose built for the stockfeed industry.

The results:

• Eliminated repetitive manual lifting

• Improved day to day production efficiency

• Simple, operator friendly system

• Skid mounted design that can be relocated as the business grows

• Ongoing local service and support from the Aurora team

This project is a great example of how practical automation can improve safety, efficiency and long term flexibility without the need for a new facility.

Historic building. Tomorrow's technology.

Aurora is at the Australasian Grain Industry Conference in Melbourne today and tomorrow (29–30 July). Our own Brent Hoyle is there both days, connecting with industry leaders to talk all things bagging and palletizing automation for the agri-sector.

The theme is Thriving Today, Resilient Tomorrow, we think Automation plays a big part in making this a reality for the industry.

If you're at AGIC and want to talk through your packaging or end-of-line automation challenges, come find Brent, he'd love to chat.

See you in Melbourne!

Machine of the Month: ILERBAG HF High-Speed Horizontal FFS Bagging Machine

Designed for fine granular products and high-speed production environments, the ILERBAG HF delivers precision bagging into FFS plastic bags from tubular film rolls. Built for performance, cleanliness and reliable sealing, it is ideal for chemical and petrochemical products such as S-PVC and other free-flowing materials.

Key highlights:
- High-speed output of up to 1000 bags per hour
- Optimised flow control and dosing system for uniform product discharge
- High-efficiency cyclonic dust recovery system to reduce emissions and product loss
- Reliable sealing performance with a specialised filling spout and end-seal cleaning module
- Energy efficient design with regenerative braking and optimised components
- Hygienic and accessible construction for easier cleaning and maintenance
- Recipe management by product and bag format for faster changeovers

The ILERBAG HF is ideal for manufacturers handling fine products where speed, clean operation, sealing reliability and consistent bag quality are essential.

Learn more about this machine here: https://aurora-process.com/product/ilerbag-hf/

Small bag closure issues can create big brand problems.

Powder sifting through seals. Moisture ingress during transport. Damaged graphics at point of sale. These issues don’t just affect the bag — they affect product quality, presentation and customer confidence.

Aurora’s Continuous Heat Sealers are designed to deliver reliable, high integrity bag closures across demanding industrial environments.

Suitable for industries including dairy, fertiliser, lime, food, landscape products and milling, these systems are built to handle:
• Heat sealable polyethylene bags and pouches
• Product residue within the seal area
• Heavy gusseted bag formats
• Laminated bag surfaces without damage

Combined with custom conveying solutions tailored to your process, it’s a complete end of line sealing solution designed for reliability, consistency and presentation.

Because your product should arrive looking as good as it left.

Jeremy & Braden were in Düsseldorf, Germany last week attending Interpack 2026, one of the world’s leading trade fairs for processing and packaging technology.

Events like Interpack are a valuable opportunity to explore the latest innovations in automation, packaging systems and manufacturing technology, while connecting with global industry leaders and partners.