FOOD & BEVERAGE FANUC
Five cobot hygiene considerations for food producers
There are multiple drivers for automating food production lines, says Paul Richards, partner sales manager, at FANUC UK
boosting productivity, food manufacturers have much to gain from automation. And despite being late to the party compared to other industries such as automotive, robot installations in UK food and beverage facilities are now rising in number. According to the latest IFR World Robotics
W
report, the sector saw 553 robot installations in 2023 (up from 327 in 2022 and 198 in 2021), bringing the total to 1,936. (cobots), which are currently enjoying a boost in and easier to programme than their industrial robot counterparts, cobots by their very nature are also designed to work alongside humans, making them ideal for busy food production environments. But not every cobot is made equal and
hygiene must be of paramount importance when selecting any piece of equipment for food production. The wide range of cobot models on the market can be overwhelming for food producers to navigate, however; so how can manufacturers ensure that the model they
hether helping to plug labour shortages, taking over dull, dirty or dangerous manual tasks, or
the demanding hygiene requirements of food factories?
end-user should discuss with their cobot supplier before making any purchase.
PRODUCT HANDLING REQUIREMENTS First, consider where in the process your cobot handling raw meat or fresh bakery items? Or is it required for secondary packaging, such as placing frozen food in trays? It is the former, then a specialist food grade cobot with IP67 rating, such as the food option in FANUC’s CRX range, is essential. If it’s the latter, then a standard (ie non- food grade) cobot may well be suitable. Make sure to discuss your product handling requirements with your cobot supplier in detail, to ensure you don’t end up over-specifying your equipment (and paying more as a result).
PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT Not every food production environment is the
same and hygiene requirements will vary from factory to factory. A bakery will have different washdown needs to a facility handling raw meat, key equipment between shifts might be enough to meet hygiene standards, whereas for raw meat handling, disinfection and high-pressure washdown will be needed. In addition, multi-purpose lines with frequent product changeovers may well require more intense washdowns to prevent cross- contamination of allergens. Think carefully about the environment your cobot will be working in with your supplier to ensure it will be right for your facility.
CABLING can require complicated cleaning and sterilising methods, so check how your cobot’s cables are housed before making a purchase. All the cables in FANUC’s CRX range run through the cobot arm, meaning they are internally (rather hygiene hazard.
30 October 2024 Irish Manufacturing
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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