Robotic automation equipment is common in the auto industry, but the wet conditions in dairy plants have created a need for equipment standards to comply with strict food safety and hygiene rules. Here is what we have done so far.
Traditional applications for robot-based automation in food processing have been basic pick-and-place packing operations. On the processing side, dairy plants contain many applications that are repetitive or labor-intensive. These are perfect candidates for robot-based automation.
One of the many challenges is the environment. Most industrial robots are only designed for the automotive industry. Many are not suited to the high humidity and wet environment or the sanitary requirements of the food industry.