Technology/IT | IDM
The KUKA KR QUANTEC PA Arctic can be
used in temperatures as low as -30 ° C.
Its insensitivity predestines the robot
for use in the food distribution area
(photo: KUKA Robotics)
Hygienic, food-safe and easy to clean: The KUKA
KR AGILUS HM (Hygienic Machine) meets all the
main requirements of the food industry for modern
robots. (Photo: KUKA Robotic)
9 2017 | international-dairy.com · 29
Hygiene standards
The shortage of personnel in the industry has a serious impact during seasonally
induced peaks. Despite the increase in the number of units to be
produced, manufacturers still have to serve market quickly to withstand
the dynamic. The KUKA KR AGILUS HM (Hygienic Machine) fulfills strict hygiene
regulations as well as the requirements of the sesonal business. The
new KR AGILUS HM is specially designed for direct contact with foodstuffs
and minimizes direct contact between the employees and the product –
e.g. when handling cheese. Its design is kept in food-safe whiteness, which
underlines its hygiene function. Lubricants are exclusively food grade oils;
the protection class is at least IP 67. The use of hexagonal screws prevents
the penetration of food residues and thus reduces the formation of bacteria
to a minimum. The KR AGILUS HM is also resistant to all commonly
used cleaning agents and does not require any protective cover.
Palletizing
Thanks to a network of specialized system partners, KUKA develops the
tailor-made solution with the right robot model for every requirement.
Several special PA (palletizer) robot types from the KR QUANTEC series are
available, with a wide range of load capacities and ranges for palletizing
and depalletizing applications. The robots of this series are characterized
by dynamics and extreme stiffness. They are also optionally available with
food-grade lubricants or as special versions. The KR QUANTEC PA Arctic
is specially developed for deep-frozen palletising in extreme conditions
down to -30 ° C. 120, 180 or 240 kg load capacity – these specialists work
reliably, quickly and without a protective sheath in the entire cold range
without mechanical heating.
Individualization and
the production of tomorrow
The next generation of robots will, in addition to palletising and packaging,
also open up new areas of application along the process chain,
where both human-robot collaboration (HRC) and mobility are in demand.
The consumer today wants to assemble his products on the
Internet. Foodstuffs such as e.g. Muslim mixtures – many things are
already real today, other offers are under development. As the most
flexible production element, the robot already collects the data in
production and delivers it to the IT system. He is the arm of IT in production,
the link. In the future, IT will process these data and return
them to production via the robot, which can then be successively optimized.
No other component in the production process is currently
able to fill this supporting role as well as modern industrial robots.
Robots are already an integral part of the production of consumer
goods in many areas. They are regarded as proven professionals in primary
and secondary packaging as well as in palletising and de-palletising.
Through new developments in gripper technology, hygienic design and
integrated image processing, the robot reliably performs new tasks in
direct contact with food. In addition to technical innovations, the ongoing
lack of personnel in the industry will intensify the drive for automation.
Through human-robot collaboration and mobile robotics, new
areas of application for a new robot generation in the vicinity of “Industry
4.0” will be opened in the medium to long-term. The scenario that
consumers directly order individualized products from manufacturers
via the Internet, which are then manufactured and delivered directly
will increasingly become a reality for many everyday products. Robotic
systems will play the key role as the arm of IT in production.
SPX FLOW
People
SPX FLOW, Inc. has appointed Pierre Sbabo as Vice President of its Food and Beverage business in
EMEA. Sbabo comes from the water and process technology markets and has gathered international
experience. With a Master’s Degree in Marketing and International Business from ESC Chambery, Sbabo
has worked for global leaders in water and fluid treatment and processing, most recently with Pentair, and
joined SPX FLOW in May 2017.