| Human labor in the food and beverage industry has | | | | Pack and Stack The majority of robotics systems in |
| been plagued with problems for quite some time now | | | | manufacturing lines are devoted to picking, packing and |
| with issues such as productivity and efficiency, safety | | | | stacking functions as these are usually the areas that |
| and cost-effectiveness being some of the major | | | | are most repetitive and speed-critical. The picking |
| concerns. Because of these problems, more food and | | | | function is one of the initial stages in the production |
| beverage manufacturing companies are looking to | | | | process and efficiency is important during this phase. |
| robotics to streamline their operations. The use of | | | | Food items take on a variety of shapes. It is vital that |
| robotics in manufacturing isn't a new concept. There | | | | the robotics systems used are capable of handling |
| are many industries that are now relying on robots for | | | | such inconsistencies as these impacts highly on |
| much of their day-to-day operations. Food and | | | | operational speed. Packing is usually the area where |
| beverage companies are also beginning to see the | | | | robotics is most often utilized. Robotics has great |
| advantages that robotics can do for their bottom line. | | | | potential in packing operations as there are numerous |
| Advantages Robotics systems help refine productivity. | | | | types of packaging used to wrap food in. Robots can |
| A lot of tasks involved in these industries require | | | | be manipulated to efficiently handle the differences in |
| repetition and speed, and robotics can help companies | | | | package dimensions. Product stacking is also an area |
| get their products to consumers faster. Another | | | | where robotics can be used extensively. Stacking can |
| benefit of utilizing robots in production is that it enables | | | | be a complicated process especially when pallets are |
| manufacturers to establish a safer work environment. | | | | loaded with different types of products. Additionally, |
| Traditionally, manufacturers depend on manual labor | | | | highly perishable products need to be loaded in a room |
| for product packaging, food assembly and even heavy | | | | with very low temperatures. Human laborers aren't |
| lifting. But there is such a high potential for accidents in | | | | able to stay long in these rooms and this is where |
| these tasks that it makes more sense to put in a | | | | robots take over. Also, there are certain equipment |
| system that can handle operations without the risk of | | | | that won't work efficiently within cold temperatures. |
| physical harm. There is also an improvement in terms | | | | This problem is eliminated with the use of robotic |
| of quality and safety. Sanitation is a vital issue in food | | | | systems. Outlook for the Future Experts are confident |
| handling and the reality is, the chances of contamination | | | | that the potential of robotics in the food and beverage |
| are higher when operations are handled by people. | | | | industry will expand. The retail industry is seen as one |
| Human-initiated measures just don't compare to the | | | | of the areas where robotics can be incorporated. Fast |
| cleanliness standards that can be achieved with | | | | food chains can benefit from using robotics. Currently |
| robotics. Equally sophisticated sanitation technologies | | | | there are developments on vending machine systems |
| come along with these state of the art systems. Pick, | | | | as well as the use of robots for bartending functions. |