Industry Growth
The use of robotics and automation in meat and poultry processing has increased immensely over the past five to 10 years. Dunedin, New Zealand-based Scott Technology Ltd. says the meat processing segment of its business has seen the most growth over the past 10 years – over 250 percent. The company provides equipment for automated slaughter, boning, packaging and materials handling in meat and poultry operations. In lamb operations, Scott is the leading provider of boning automation – and that segment is growing rapidly, according to Andrew Arnold, general manager for Scott. The company also has a growing presence in beef boning operations, and in packaging automation, palletizing and materials handling across all species.
ABB’s robotics also have a strong presence in the food industry. “Robotics have been the mainstay of our food and beverage business for many years,” Spreckley says. “They have contributed not only to ABB Robotics’ overall growth, but also led to the acceptance of robotic automation in other processing and packaging areas. Advances in software and control technologies have moved picking, packing and palletizing forward to more complex and innovative systems with ease of programming, offline simulation and rapid installation to the fore.”
The growth in the use of robotics is associated with the further development of the technology. There are so many more options now available to processors than there were even just one decade ago.
“The technology associated with robotics and associated machinery is evolving continuously, with more attention to the requirements of the food sector being significant,” Arnold explains. Those requirements include washdown robots and vision and sensing systems.
“Scott utilizes advanced imaging and sensing including X-ray to analyze individual carcasses which enables the equipment to adjust for each cut or carcass to provide the ultimate accuracy and to maximize the value of each carcass,” Arnold says.
And in the packaging area, Scott relies on robotics and automation to ensure product traceability.
Worker and Food Safety
The increase in the use of robotics and automation in processing not only comes from the desire to ramp up speeds on production lines to increase the bottom line but also in an effort to remove some risks and obstacles from plant workers.
“Because work in a meat processing plant can be extremely uncomfortable, tedious and dangerous for humans, many aspects of a meat processing plant can benefit from automation from the abattoir to final distribution,” Spreckley says. For example, slaughterhouses are run at near-freezing temperatures that aren’t ideal for workers. They are also extremely noisy and the tasks workers do on a daily basis can be dangerous and extremely repetitive. “Employing robots to do these tasks improves throughput, creates less waste – thanks to the lack of human contact with raw meat product – and leaves humans to do more cognitive tasks,” he explains.
The use of robotics in processing facilities can greatly reduce worker safety risks. “Robotics make the whole process, particularly in the area of cutting and trimming, safer,” Spreckley says. “Almost every workers’ hands and arms can come into close proximity of the band-saw blade.” Robotics can remove this risk from the production line.
Keeping food safe is another obvious benefit resulting from the use of robotic automation. Whenever there is human contact with food there is an increased risk of passing on pathogens. Decreasing human contact with food on the production line can only help reduce these risks. Advances in hygienic design in robotics and the increase in washdown capabilities in all equipment can significantly minimize potential contamination.
“Advances in hygienic design over the past 10 years have been driven by refining and tightening of industry regulations, consumer demand for safer foods and an increase in product recalls which are costly and damage the reputation of the food processor,” Spreckley says.
Automation equipment must be suitable for either wipe-down or high-pressure washdown cleaning utilizing industry-approved cleaning agents with surfaces which will not rust. If the equipment is coated, the material used to coat cannot chip, peel or degrade over time.
“Special attention to the requirements of washdown are a major consideration in the design of our systems to ensure machinery is fit for purpose,” Arnold says.
ABB also keeps washdown requirements in mind when designing robotic equipment. “ABB robots are built to meet the most demanding working conditions and the highest hygienic standards,” Spreckley says. All ABB robots feature IP67 joints and connectors. IP (international protection) ratings are given to equipment to indicate the level of protection the equipment, or piece of equipment, holds against solids and liquids during use. ABB’s IRB 360 FlexPicker is available in washdown stainless steel construction and is able to withstand daily cleaning cycles with high-pressure, high-temperature water and caustic solutions.
