Taking a paw forward into the future for Coca-Cola
DRINKS giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has introduced an innovative new staff member to its East Kilbride and Wakefield sites with the new robot ‘Spot’ dogs.
Marking the first deployment of such tech to CCEP’s UK operations, the new robotic inspection dog has been developed by Boston Dynamics and will have the task of monitoring almost 600 inspection points across seven production lines in the facilities, helping to collect real-time data without disrupting production.
Each ‘Spot’ dog is equipped with highly advanced sensors that will allow the robots to capture vibrations, ultrasound and thermography data across the site as well as visual monitoring and maintenance capabilities.
This technology will also help to support CCEP’s ongoing sustainability priorities across both plants as Spot will be able to identify air and CO2 leaks across production and find equipment that is not running within optimal conditions and therefore wasting energy.
This new move follows a pilot across the CCEP Barcelona site that was then subsequently rolled out across nine other locations across Spain, France, Germany, Australia, Indonesia and The Netherlands.
Chris Goodall, VP for customer service and supply chain at CCEP GB, said: “Introducing Spot at our Wakefield and East Kilbride sites is helping us take a smarter, more proactive approach to maintenance. By giving our engineers real-time insight across routine inspection points, Spot frees them up to focus their expertise where it makes the biggest difference – identifying issues earlier, improving reliability and keeping our production lines running efficiently.”
And following the introduction of East Kilbride’s four-legged staff member, the site also played host to the King’s Baton Relay ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.
Colleagues and local community members gathered at the Milton Road site to celebrate the Baton’s arrival and were joined by Collette Stevenson MSP for East Kilbride as well as Joe Fagan MSP for South Scotland to help mark the momentous event.
The East Kilbride location marked one of over 50 events and festivals the Baton will visit during its tour of Scotland ahead of the start of the Games on 23 July.
Fagan said: “The Commonwealth Games returning to Scotland is a milestone moment, and the King’s Baton Relay is a powerful symbol of what the Games represent. I’m pleased to see CCEP’s East Kilbride site hosting the Baton and bringing people together locally to celebrate this journey.”
Seamus Kerrigan, director of supply chain at CCEP’s East Kilbride facility, said: “As the Official Soft Drinks Provider to Glasgow 2026, supporting the Commonwealth Games means a great deal to us and to the colleagues who work here.
“The East Kilbride site first opened in 1964 and has been the heart of our Scottish operations for over 60 years. Welcoming the King’s Baton to the site as the Games return home was a memorable moment for everyone here.”
