FOOD & BEVERAGE
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40th Anniversary 40yrasrevinnAht0
REDUCING CABINET CLUTTER
Food manufacturers can be first into new markets by frequently reconfiguring processing lines. Stephen Hayes, managing director at Beckhoff Automation, explains how robotics and EtherCat can help Robots are increasingly used to cut, move,
F
ood manufacturers can achieve flexible production lines at minimal labour costs, by adopting automation without
cabinets. Food processing operations can be reconfigured with machines that can be transported and moved, more easily and faster than traditional machinery. In April 2019, ING Bank’s economics
department published its report on technology in the food industry, which discussed how technology helps food manufacturers produce more efficiently for a growing world population. Improving shelf life and food safety revolves around technology, and greater use of machines and software ensures affordability and consistent quality. The report explains that: “The number of
robots in the European food industry is well over 30,000, while the number of robots per 10,000 employees rose from 62 in 2013 to 84 in 2017. Although Germany is the largest market, robot density is highest in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy.” From controlling people and machines to
fully automated production lines with remote control and monitoring, food production is increasingly in the hands of data analysts and robots. Using robots makes the production process more stable with higher production volume and improved food safety, and less labour- intensive with lower personnel costs.
package, and palletise products, for example. Data technology increases predictability and artificial intelligence contributes towards the streamlined use of production lines. Connected machines mean that processes can be inspected and controlled remotely. Food production is changing and adapting
with respect to seasonal demand changes, and the growing trend is for shorter-run food batches to tie in with promotions or consumer trends. Consumer demand for personalised food products is booming, with brands like Marmite and Cadbury’s promoting personalised offerings.
Automation without cabinets
These trends will encourage food manufacturers to be nimbler on their feet, and to frequently reconfigure processing lines accordingly. EtherCAT P allows for automation systems to be more transportable as a result of reduced wiring and cabling requirements. It is the backbone of Beckhoff’s automation without cabinets concept. For example, reduced machine footprint
and installation space is a key feature of the AMP8000 distributed Servo Drive system, which integrates the servo drive directly into the servomotor. By relocating the power electronics directly into the machine, the space requirements within the control cabinet
32 DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
technology), the real-time Ethernet technology from Beckhoff, boasts 1,000 distributed I/O points responding within 30µs, almost unlimited network size, and optimum vertical integration thanks to Ethernet and internet technologies. With EtherCAT, the costly Ethernet star
topology can be replaced with a simple line or tree structure, without expensive infrastructure components being required. All types of Ethernet devices can be integrated via a switch or switch port. Beckhoff EtherCAT I/O modules with IP69K protection are designed to withstand the cleaning procedures common in food applications. An Australian food manufacturer for
example, previously needed three conventional feed lines, with their corresponding costs and space requirements. With an EtherCAT controller, the 21 servo axes distributed throughout the entire factory are now controlled by just one powerful computer. Information is exchanged over the network with no ‘spaghetti cabling’ created.
Beckhoff Automation
www.beckhoff.co.uk
are reduced to a single coupling module that can supply multiple servo-drives from just one cable via a distribution module. EtherCAT (Ethernet for control automation
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