Customer expectations regarding, among other things, a diversified product offer are constantly growing. In order to meet them, retailers are looking for new solutions, even more flexible than before.
In order to speed up all processes, reduce costs and relieve employees, they decide to use innovative technology and robotics.
Automated mobile robots and collaborative robots
In order to attract new customers, entrepreneurs must increasingly adapt to their needs in terms of resource management. For this purpose, single or combined machines are usually used, which, thanks to their flexibility, allow you to receive the right product at the right time. Companies are also trying to reduce landfill costs and waste, so they aim to only produce items that are necessary for shipping.
In industrial plants, instead of conveyor belts or storage stations, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and collaborative robots (cobot) are starting to function. Using them not only increases the flexibility of the company, but also reduces the risk of environmental pollution, the amount of scrap and waste produced and losses. Their tasks include transporting manufactured goods between locations or adjacent areas. These systems have the ability to reconfigure in the food industry, thanks to which they pool resources and reduce costs by storing only what is necessary for the implementation of a given process.
The benefits of automation
The development, creation and use of such systems requires extensive knowledge and skills to fully use their potential. Taking advice from partners and planning carefully is key. Every company that carefully and correctly automates the loading and unloading process benefits from the following benefits:
- all work steps are carefully tracked, analyzed and recorded,
- overall equipment efficiency is increased by reducing machine downtime and optimizing availability and performance,
- products change faster,
- outine activities are performed by machines, so employees can be engaged in more valuable and interesting tasks,
- production lines take up less space and are more flexible, thanks to which they can be quickly and easily modified,
- thus adapting to new customer needs.
Minimizing errors
To prevent production downtime, line resources must be replenished at the right time, including loading raw materials, packing containers, and dispensing finished goods. The key role in this aspect is played by palletizers, which increase the efficiency and traceability of the production process.
Certain automation and robotics solutions can also increase throughput. These are, for example, the Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA), used to fill bottles or other containers, robots for positioning and leveling raw materials, or carton loading devices.
Reliable and safe shipping
As companies try to reduce personnel costs for handling and shipping goods, these processes are undergoing many changes. Food companies face a particular challenge when they have to receive, place and sort incoming products at the same time. Careful handling of goods increases throughput, prevents damaged products from reaching the next stage and reduces waste. Automation is very helpful in this regard. A perfect example are the DELTA robots, which increase the flow rate using appropriately adapted software.
Conveyors are also controlled by means of automatic positioning of goods. Available platforms are equipped with intelligent conveyor function blocks responsible for controlling distances and positioning products, thus increasing throughput and reducing damage.
Packing is of great importance in the preparation of the shipment, which can take various forms, such as placing products in packages, individual packages in collective packaging or collective packaging on pallets. The last of the activities is more and more often done with the use of robots. This process also involves securing products by wrapping. For this purpose, companies use automatic wrappers.
Product dosing
Another activity performed in food industrial plants is dosing. In order to efficiently and accurately portion goods, increase production efficiency and reduce the risk of making a mistake, various types of systems are used, which are used in dosing small uniform products, loose products and liquids. The choice of the appropriate system depends on the size, viscosity and consistency of the product.
Weighting
The purpose of weighing is to control the correctness of the production process. The systems responsible for this activity are often connected to dosing, mixing, portioning and packaging machines. Weighing modules come in various forms depending on the needs. They can be integrated with tanks to check the mass of substances inside them. Weight control can also take place directly on the conveyor belt and be continuous.
Platform scales are also available to monitor the weight of various types of loads. There are also models that are connected to a forklift and contribute to improving the transport and loading of goods.
Labeling
Labeling machines are also used in the food industry. Their task is to place labels on single and collective packaging. If necessary, the system gives the possibility to manually modify the data placed on them. Labels are necessary at every stage of production and transport, as they enable unambiguous identification of products.
Future trends in the food industry
Trends have been emerging in the food and beverage industry for some time and are likely to continue well into 2030. Belong to them:
- growing importance of food science and the use of modern technologies in production - in the future, enterprises
- will probably use innovative solutions more often to increase brand trust among customers, shorten production time and introduce modern goods,
- changes aimed at striving for sustainable nutrition of consumers and increasing awareness of people in this area,
- control of the flow of goods in the areas of production and storage, thus optimizing the efficiency of the plant.
Appropriate preparation of systems
Hygiene plays a huge role in the food industry - it is necessary to ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness. This also applies to automation and robotics systems supporting production processes. The first way to protect devices is to use manipulators and grippers made of acid-resistant steel. This material ensures maximum durability of the system in extreme conditions.
All machines should be made in such a way that they are watertight. Therefore, it is necessary to use special gaskets with such properties that will not pose a threat when in contact with the products. The equipment must meet all standards for protection against dust ingress and be resistant to water jets from various directions.
Manipulators are also protected by special covers, through which chemical cleaning agents used to maintain hygiene do not penetrate.