Food safety, productivity need fuel robotic innovations
Increased productivity, reduced costs and improved food and worker safety continue to push automation and robotics higher on food and beverage manufacturers’ priority list.
Robots have evolved from being used primarily for end-of-line palletizing operations due to their strength, payload capacity and tireless repetitive motion to nimbler, more versatile machines capable of handling primary and secondary packaging tasks. Now, manufacturers are using robots on the processing line. These robots are frequently offered with a clean design that prevents food particle retention and is resistant to bacteria growth.
These newer robotic technologies have the advantage of being able to operate around the clock without compromising performance due to fatigue, injury or motivation. For example, in the meat and poultry industry, robots are now being used for delicate operations such as deboning poultry and carving meat. The technology is more accurate, producing less waste and eliminating ergonomic injuries.