Building a Future-Proof In-House Video Workflow with Arla

Arla started The Barn with a clear goal: take control of video production, scale content output, and maintain high-quality visuals across multiple channels. Traditional agency models were slow, expensive, and often misaligned with the brand’s vision, creating bottlenecks that made it hard to produce the volume of content needed for a fast-moving digital landscape.

The solution was to build a new team from scratch, blending creative talent with technical food expertise and a culture of experimentation. Jais explains that the early days were all about trial and error, testing everything: formats, lighting, pacing, until the team understood what truly resonated with each audience.

As production complexity grew, Arla realised that hand-held equipment and basic rigs could not keep up with their ambitions. In their quest to scale content production through cost-effective long-term solutions, they turned to MRMC, and in particular, the high-speed 9-axis Bolt system.

Before the Bolt, complex shots required multiple setups with cranes, sliders, dollies and steadicams, each taking hours to prepare. Testing new ideas often meant waiting for external production houses, delaying feedback and limiting experimentation. Now, with their new motion control robot in hand, Arla could begin executing precise, repeatable moves in a fraction of the time, with special effects, cloning shots, VFX, slow motion and dynamic sequences becoming much easier to achieve.

The Bolt also enabled Arla to capture more shots per day with a smaller crew, experiment more frequently and reduce coordination overhead. High-speed movement paired with Phantom cameras allowed slow-motion sequences and complex movements that were previously difficult or cost-prohibitive. Internal testing and prototyping became part of the workflow, so experimentation no longer slowed production.

Arla uses the Bolt across a wide range of productions, from high-end commercials to social media content and e-commerce shots. The pixel-perfect precision and repeatable movement of the Bolt proved crucial when moving between different angles, top-down shots and dynamic or orbital movements. With the Bolt, a shot that previously required hours of reset time can now be repositioned in minutes.

Shots that once required multiple edits or cuts can now be executed in a single, fluid take for more immersive storytelling. Controlling motion and timing precisely allows Arla to experiment with visual narrative techniques such as smooth transitions from cooking processes to packaged product shots in a single take, improving both quality and impact.

Arla also highlights the Bolt’s versatility both in the studio and on location. It performs just as well in a fixed setup as it does on the move, travelling easily to location shoots. This flexibility means the team can use it across all kinds of projects, from quick test shoots to large-scale TV commercials, giving Arla greater creative control and efficiency over their projects.

Testing, pre-visualisation and on-set adjustments became faster. The need for external hires and additional staff diminished. The team could now tackle high-complexity shoots in-house with a small, lean crew, producing more high-end content in less time. The speed and flexibility of the Bolt encouraged creative risk-taking, leading to higher-quality output across the board.

For Arla, the Bolt is more than just a piece of equipment. It has helped build an ecosystem where high-quality creative ideas can be developed and delivered consistently for years to come. Investing in robotics has improved operational efficiency, increased creative output, and strengthened Arla’s competitive edge in a content-driven market.

For companies with high content demands and the need for consistent production quality, robotics can deliver unmatched value. The key is to ensure the team is driven, uses the system regularly and integrates it regularly into production practices. The Bolt, allows brands to achieve production value with agility, transforming how content is created, tested and delivered.

Nearly four years on, the Bolt has delivered a clear return on investment. Arla has reduced its reliance on agencies, streamlined production workflows and significantly lowered content creation costs. What used to require multiple suppliers, large crews and long timelines can now be done internally, faster and more affordably. The result is a lean, high-performing production model that continues to save time and money while increasing output.

Arla Foods’ story demonstrates the transformative potential of motion control for brand production teams. With vision, commitment and the right technology, anyone can achieve creative freedom, while producing higher-quality content than ever before.