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How Robotics Help In Bakery Production

Innovation and rapid industrial growth are carrying the market to new heights. With faster and more efficient mechanization of mundane and high-skill tasks, companies have optimized their production processes. 

Statistics put forth by the Robotics Industries Association state that U.S. companies ordered robotics at extraordinarily high numbers in 2018, with a more significant number of non-automotive companies purchasing robotics than ever before. Hence, it’s only natural that the baked goods industry catches up to the trend. 

The overly competitive nature of the food industry demands speedy processing and automation of tasks. It enables us to complete the most sensitive functions with just the touch of a button, free from the worry of human error.

Boosting Profits

There are no doubts about the benefits robotics bring to the workplace

As a business owner, you must consider the investment versus reward. The investment in groups of highly skilled workers has a much higher monetary value. It may get the job done, but there’s a better alternative to consider. 

Automatic case packing machines are a one-time investment into your business that will yield high results with minimal upkeep. 

Few skilled workers who understand a machine’s workings can tweak the production process for maximum profit. Robots with user-friendly interfaces make this process even more accessible.

“Bakery/snack producers see market demands move to shorter, high-mix product runs that require higher degrees of changeover in shorter periods,” says Dean Elkins, currently working in the Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America Inc. in Miamisburg, OH.

Utilizing their input can further improve your end product by developing more efficient automatic case packing. You will not only be saving your money but also boosting your production. 

Boosting Production 

Robots’ deployment in bakeries will increase system flexibility and availability to heights unachievable by regular manual labor. Benefits include:

  • 24-hour workdays 
  • Reduced investment in the paid labor
  • Timely product changeover 
  • Reduced reliance on multiple crowded lines 
  • Consistent quality

Minor changes can always be made to any computer program to bring about variations in product design. That helps keep the creativity of your food product intact. 

Compact robot designs allow us to focus on increasing our production yield instead of accommodating a large labor force. 

Boosting Efficiency 

Computer software is constantly improving, allowing automatic packaging to compete at an all-time high. Removal of the time, effort, and monetary cost invested in re-educating and re-training manual labor is a bonus.

With advancements in technology, it’s easier than ever to adapt technology to smaller operations. For example, robotic case packing machines are well-suited to doing repetitive tasks utilizing simple codes. That ensures the same output every time, which is a difficult feat for manual labor. 

Robotic case packing machines do well in various tasks, assisting in packaging multiple products by switching from one code set to another. An interesting example would be Colborne Foodbotics, which came up with an automated bread and basket handling system for croutons.

Potential uses of robots in baked goods processing are:

  • finding products on a moving belt in fast picking applications 
  • carton and tray packing naked or packaged products
  • wrapper loading and stacking and loading of naked product
  • ensuring trays are empty before adding new products 
  • finding the location of pans before depalletizing

Innovation in robotics is key to adapting automated machines such as case packing machines to individual needs

Boosting Reliability 

Many robots are self-monitoring entities, the most prominent example being ABB and FANUC robots. That allows them to oversee, analyze and troubleshoot errors. 

The ability to protect themselves from overload without an unnecessary decrease in production makes them ideal in maximizing a system’s efficiency. 

They can also predict future errors and act in a preventative manner. Robots tirelessly scan vast amounts of data. That ensures smooth working by predicting a wide variety of future anomalies and working to counteract them.

Boosting Safety

Robots primarily work in isolated environments with minimal human contact. That significantly reduces the chances of any hazards. 

You can put safety mechanisms in place for essential human contacts, such as checkpoints. Proximity-based shutdown systems slow down or stop the machines allowing for the safe presence of humans. Thermal regulation systems prevent overheating, minimizing chances of fires. 

Boosting Optimized Usage of Space

Space-saving innovations are also critical to make robotics effective in baked good production. For baked goods, temperature control and constant human oversight are crucial in maintaining quality control. Hence, processes that can be automated become limited. 

The manual labor associated with packaging is a great place to start if you’re looking to automate your bakery. 

Automated case packing machinery minimizes human contact with the end product. That helps in maintaining:

  • Increased hygiene 
  • Uniform packaging 
  • Higher rate of production

BluePrint Automation’s The Spider 200i is an excellent option for you if you require packing and sealing in a space-saving design. The Spider 300v works with vertical and horizontal pack patterns simultaneously. 

Final Thoughts 

Bringing your bakery into the 21st century by automating the process shows excellent vision. If you’re looking for a place to start, we suggest initiating automation in the case packaging process. 

With plenty of development in packaging machinery, it is the safest place to begin the robotics journey. Case and tray packing machinery works well in collaboration with humans and is user-friendly. 

At BluePrint Automation, we help you decide the best way to move forth with your packaging needs, using automatic machinery to make the process highly efficient. Contact us now for more information to help you get started. 

 

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