Page 93 - FoodFocusThailand No.231 June 2025

STORAGE, HANDLING & LOGISTICS

contact. Common materials like freezing and condensation, and rely on food-grade lubricants—such as synthetic
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene hydrocarbons (PAO), polyalkylene glycol (PAG), and silicone-based formulations.
(PE), and acetal (POM) are chosen
for their resistance to moisture and Cobots: Smart Assistance in Industry 5.0
cleaning agents. Their smooth The transition to Industry 5.0 emphasizes synergy between humans and robots.
surfaces help prevent the Collaborative robots, or “Cobots,” are designed for this purpose. They are
accumulation of food particles and compact, safe, and highly adaptable, making them ideal for small spaces or tasks
bacterial growth. Structural design that involve frequent changes. Cobots are particularly effective for repetitive, light-
also plays a key role. Open-frame load tasks such as product packing, labeling, or barcode scanning. To enhance
construction allows for effective high- usability, Cobots are often mounted on mobile bases, equipped with soft grippers
pressure washdowns and quick, or suction cups for delicate handling, and operated through intuitive user interfaces.
tool-less disassembly. Some Examples include the Universal Robots UR Series (UR5, UR10), Doosan Robotics’
conveyor models include Clean-in- E-Series (NSF-certified), ABB GoFa, and the FANUC CRX Series Food Grade.
Place (CIP) capabilities, enabling
internal cleaning without removing the
belts. Furthermore, manufacturers of
such equipment must adhere to GMP
and HACCP standards, and ideally,
follow international sanitary design
principles such as the 3-A Sanitary
Standards (U.S.) or EHEDG
Guidelines (EU).

Industrial Robots: The
Automation Alternative
The adoption of robotics in food
production facilities is steadily
increasing. A prominent example is
the pick-and-place robot—an agile,
high-speed robotic arm designed to
transfer items from a conveyor line to
packaging. These robots are
particularly suited for small or
irregularly shaped items such as
sandwiches, confectionery, or PET
bottles. Equipped with machine vision
systems, they can detect product
positioning with high precision,
achieving cycle times of less than one
second. Types of pick-and-place
robots commonly used include Delta
robots, SCARA robots, Cartesian
(Gantry) robots, and articulated-arm
robots.
Once items are packed into
boxes, the next step often involves
palletization. This process is
increasingly automated through the
use of palletizing robots. These robots
are capable of lifting and placing
boxes or trays onto pallets or removing
them as needed. Many are designed
to operate in cold environments,
making them ideal for frozen food
warehouses at temperatures ranging
from -20°C to -50°C to maintain Food
Grade NSF H1. Well-known models
include the FANUC M-410 Series,
ABB IRB 660, and KUKA KR Quantec
PA, all designed for sub-zero
applications. To ensure durability and
hygiene in such environments, these
robots use materials resistant to

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