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As robot applications and uses continue to evolve, the industrial robot market is growing rapidly. While most industrial robot deployments have traditionally been in the automotive industry using articulated robots, adoption rates continue to expand. According to a report from PMMI (Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies), as costs decrease, the rate of robot adoption has accelerated, while robot performance and flexibility have also improved. In the food and beverage industry, robots were previously limited to tertiary and some secondary packaging tasks, such as palletizing, because some robots did not meet standards for direct food contact. However, suppliers are increasingly developing robots suitable for handling unpackaged goods.
Articulated robots still comprise the majority of industrial robots used in the food and beverage industry. However, the report states that over the past decade there has been increasing attention on opportunities for using robots in primary packaging and food processing applications.
The labor-intensive nature of the food and beverage industry creates ideal opportunities for adopting industrial robots, especially as robots are increasingly designed to meet strict health and safety requirements.
The food manufacturing industry has progressed slowly in integrating industrial robots, partly due to the large base of small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs are reluctant to invest due to a series of factors, including low initial labor costs, changing market demands, and understanding that certain robots are not suitable for handling various delicate foods. However, increased market demand over the past decade (and the need for greater throughput), lack of low-cost labor, and advances in robotics technology have prompted these food manufacturers to reconsider robotics technology.
The report also states that a common argument supporting the use of industrial robots is that it can free workers from dull, dangerous, or dirty work. Robotics technology can allow workers to focus on more creative and higher-value tasks while protecting them from injuries and repetitive mechanical tasks.
