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