New Packaging Equipment: August 2020
The nature of snack and bakery operations poses challenges to manufacturers of robotics equipment. Space is an issue. Also, the equipment must be able to handle a wide range of products of different shapes and sizes at high speeds while not damaging the goods.
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Company: Apex Motion Control
Website: https://apexmotion.com/
Equipment Snapshot: Collaborative robots continue to make an impact. For example, Apex Motion Control offers the Baker-Bot, a collaborative robot that can quickly be moved between production lines. The space-saving unit can work beside people without physical guarding.
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Company: BluePrint Automation
Website: https://blueprintautomation.com/en/
Equipment Snapshot: Joe Curcio, northeast regional sales manager, BluePrint Automation (BPA), South Chesterfield, VA, sees a renewed appreciation for pick and place technology due to its simplicity. He adds that integrating robotics, pick and place, and traditional mechanical devices, all within the same machine frame, helps reduce floor space requirements over single sourcing any of these technologies.
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Company: Colborne Foodbotics
Website: https://colbornefoodbotics.com/
Equipment Snapshot: Most of the innovation around pick and place robotics lies in EOAT and vision technology, according to Rick Hoskins, president, Colborne Foodbotics, Lake Forest, IL. He sees growing demand for flexible tools that can handle fragile products with wide tolerances.
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Company: FANUC America
Website: www.fanucamerica.com
Equipment Snapshot: FANUC America Corp., Rochester Hills, MI, recently introduced two robots that have potential applications in bakery and snack plants. The first is a high-speed delta (picking) robot, the DR-3iB. Its 8-kg payload capacity and large work envelope make it a good match for applications where a wide reach is needed, such as picking products from a conveyor belt. The second introduction is the CRX-10iA collaborative robot, which is available in reach variants.
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Company: Fetch Robotics
Website: https://fetchrobotics.com/
Equipment Snapshot: Fetch Robotics, San Jose, CA, has introduced larger-capacity robots for warehouse environments, as well as software that enables customers to deploy and maintain workflows on their own, without the need for integration. The two large robots carry 1,100 pounds and 3,300 pounds.
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Company: Harpak-ULMA
Website: www.harpak-ulma.com
Equipment Snapshot: Harpak-ULMA has introduced a system that can automatically feed, load and palletize the reusable plastic containers (RPCs) often used by bakeries. The system can depalletize, destack, open (if RPCs are collapsible) and convey RPCs to the case packing area.
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Company: JLS Automation
Website: www.jlsautomation.com
Equipment Snapshot: JLS Automation, York, PA, recently introduced the Osprey Flex vertical/horizontal case packer and the Peregrine cartoning solution. Both machines have hygienic features and a compact footprint, and allow for rapid changeover. The Osprey Flex can handle high-payload foodservice bags, and high-speed loading of retail stand-up pouches.
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Company: Schubert North America
Website: www.schubert.group/en
Equipment Snapshot: Schubert designers are focusing on optimizing or developing new pick and place tools to address these challenges. The company can work with customers to analyze the behavior of each product at specific speeds to optimize performance.
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Company: Stäubli
Website: www.staubli.com/en-us
Equipment Snapshot: Stäubli North America, Duncan, SC, recently launched its TS2 SCARA (selective compliance assembly robot arm) series, which can be used in sensitive food environments. The HE version eliminates retention areas by draining fluids alongside its fully enclosed structure. Key compoments are made of stainless steel, and an arm coating withstands full washdown cleaning.
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Company: Syntegon
Website: www.syntegon.com
Equipment Snapshot: Space-saving designs also are also being developed. More is being done to create denser robotic designs, while still offering a decent working volume, according to Kelly Meer, product manager, Syntegon Packaging Technology, New Richmond, WI.
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Company: Yaskawa America
Website: www.yaskawa.com
Equipment Snapshot: Yaskawa has addressed the need for higher sanitation standards with the recent introduction of its HC10XP robot. Yaskawa’s collaborative line also includes the HC20XP. Featuring PFL technology, the robot offers a 20-kg payload and 1.7 meters of reach, making it suitable for case packing and palletizing applications. All systems are available with Yaskawa’s Smart Pendant, which simplifies programming tasks.