One of the sectors that has managed to take advantage of the benefits of robotic automation is the food and beverage industry, finding an alternative that provides a high level of productivity, adaptability, stability and functionality.
The goal of automation in the food area is to stay competitive in the market. Industrial robots are an important and necessary part of this sector’s progress since their development has helped to comply with standards of hygiene, less pollution, higher product quality, greater speed, reduced production costs, better safety, efficiency and high performance, obtained from the increase in demand and competition, which leads the food industry to find solutions in robotic integration for its production lines.
Studies based on the global market expect an increase of 29% in the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the acquisition of robotic automation for the food and beverages sector for 2019.
There is a wide variety of robotic systems in the market for the food industry’s processes; based on two important factors: first, their optimal designs for working in clean and decontaminated environments, and second, their profitability.
Robotic arms are assisted by an intelligent vision system that allows the system to achieve maximum precision when carrying out tasks such as selecting and placing a specific object. Production in the food and beverages sector is classified into applications such as distribution, dispensing, collection and placement, packaging, palletizing, and clean room, among others. Among the most well-known industrial robot brands, the most frequently used for this type of work, taking into account their accuracy, efficiency, high productivity, compact design, profitability, rapid return on investment (ROI), minimum cycle time, greater versatility and safety are:
Kuka: KR 30-3, KR 5 sixx, KR15
ABB: IRB 6600, IRB 360, IRB 140, IRB 6640
Stäubli: HErobots, FAST TP80
Universal: UR5 collaborative robot
Robotic automation has been essential, providing an effective alternative to the strong market growth in both primary and secondary food processing, maintaining high performance without compromising on quality and also guaranteeing minimum risks of contamination.