5 Things to Consider Before Investing in Robotics for Your Food Processing Plant

Food and beverage processing facilities are increasingly adopting robotics and automation for cost reduction, improved throughput, and enhanced safety. To ensure a wise and efficient investment, consider these best practices:

1. Prioritize necessary specifications: Determine factors like robot accuracy, maintenance objectives, product dimensions, materials, temperatures, throughput requirements, and weight.

2. Select the appropriate robot type: Consider accuracy, available space, product movement distance, gripping requirements, and maintenance needs when choosing between cartesian coordinate, delta, or robotic arm robots.

3. Choose suitable end-of-arm tooling: Select the right gripper, such as bellows, fingers, jaws, switchable magnets, or vacuum cups, based on the rigidity and sensitivity of the product.

4. Conduct robot cell simulation: Use specialized software to simulate the robot's performance under production conditions, identifying stress points and maintenance needs over time for informed decision-making.

5. Ensure software and network integration: Standardize network protocols across the facility to streamline commissioning, troubleshooting, and daily operations, avoiding compatibility issues.

By following these practices, businesses can successfully implement robotics and automation into their facilities.