Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Working closely with two of the leading robot manufacturers, Festo and FANUC, Pacepacker will launch at Foodex a new pick and place robot portfolio incorporating the widest range of robots on the market. The range, which currently includes over 20 different options for food manufacturers to choose from, is made up of Cartesian, articulated arm and delta-style robots. This comprehensive range means that Pacepacker, an automation integrator, can provide a robotic solution to handle any food assembly or packing scenario.

As well as designing and manufacturing packing machinery for the food industry, Pacepacker exhibiting on stand D349 (hall 2), is a robotics system integrator. Working with Festo and FANUC, Pacepacker can offer food producers and manufacturers the widest range of pick and place robots available on the market. Plus using their own in-house design team, Pacepacker is able to offer bespoke robotic solutions as well – the company has proudly won eight industry awards in the last 24 months for their automation innovation work.

Pacepacker’s managing director, Dennis Allison, comments on how robot use in the food industry is shaping up: “We’ve been integrating robots for palletising tasks for over 40 years, but the use of robots to pick-up and pack food products is just starting to take off. Not only is robotic pick and place technology more affordable now, but the recent introduction of IP69K certified systems overcomes the main barriers that were once preventing food manufacturers from using robots to handle foods.”

The latest figures published by the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA) shows the recent acceleration in the deployment of robotics by UK food manufacturers, revealing a 60% increase in food sector adoption in 2013 compared to 2000*. “When handling either wrapped or unwrapped foods, robots offer flexibility, speed and high levels of consistency. Along with a wide range of robots, with 15 different end-effectors to choose from we can handle products in single or multiple formats, including the most fragile of products like muffins or cookies,” added Dennis.

FANUC UK managing director Chris Sumner is also noticing a marked increase in uptake. “The most recent demands from producers relate to food safety and the use of robots to improve hygiene during the manufacturing process,” says Chris. “Although IP67K certified robots have been commonplace for many years, the very nature of a robot arm, with its many crevices and less durable construction materials, has in the past prevented it from working in harsh food environments.” FANUC is one of the few suppliers in the marketplace right now that has manufactured IP69K certified systems. Its new LR Mate 200iD/7C articulated arm and M-2iA delta style assembly robot are both capable of operating in high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down environments, meeting individual Retailer Codes of Practice (COP) and the latest hygiene and product line integrity requirements set out by the British Retail Consortium.

Food manufacturers looking to gain more knowledge on the subject can use Pacepacker’s EEF award winning ‘Try Before You Buy’ facility to run tests and trials on their products before making a commitment to placing an order. They can also attend a free educational event in June at Pacepacker’s Essex based facility on robotics and automation where they will learn the differences between Cartesian, articulated arm and delta-style robots and their application capability.

*British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA) 2013 Full Year Report