Protecting Product Integrity with Food Packaging Robots

Sometimes it can be a hassle to remove the over-wrap and packaging food products come in, but the packages are there for customers’ safety and satisfaction. Robots have automated the food packaging process, making it a more efficient and reliable process. Food packaging robots are flexible enough to handle a wide variety of packaging, and they generally have low maintenance requirements, so they can repeat the motion with reliability and speed. Robots in the food and beverage industry are beneficial for traditional applications like picking, packing, and palletizing, and can even be used for meat cutting and beverage dispensing. Converting to an automated packaging system cuts costs, increases productivity, and addresses product integrity concerns and floor space limitations.

Robots’ packing of food can be described in two processes: primary and secondary packaging. Primary packaging occurs when the robot places foods into the first wrapper or layer of packaging. The need for quick output in primary packaging is immense, and robots are up to the task. Secondary packaging occurs when the robot inserts the primary wrapped product into the next layer of packaging, like a case or carton.

Robot Packaging, LLC offers both vertical and horizontal loading systems with the ability to load a variety of packaged products into containers like cases, crates, trays, or totes. The high-speed, compact robots can also inspect cases and products, can sort and distribute products, and can perform cutting and case coding.

Fanuc’s M-710iC/50H robot is an ideal solution for the food and beverage industry. It is a 5-axis model that offers a large work envelope and a compact size for work in small places. The M-710iC/50H is equipped with iRVision line tracking which allows it to track and pick three randomly oriented cased products at a time. It features enclosed motors and cables, and it has a 50kg payload.

Motoman offers the following packaging robots: SV035, SV3, SCARA, UP20, and HP6.

KUKA offers the KR 40 PA, KR 50 PA, KR 100-2 PA, KR 180-2PA, and KR 150 packaging models.

Robots.com provides Integration-Ready Fanuc, Motoman, ABB, and KUKA robots to include their food packaging robots. If you are interested in acquiring one of these robots or aren't sure where to start, contact us online or call 877-762-6881.