Stäubli’s innovative robotics assortment for meat processing

From 14th – 19th May 2022, at the IFFA, the leading trade fair for processing and packaging meat and meat alternative products, Stäubli presents highly dynamic four and six-axis robots. With its hygienically appropriate wash-down design, these machines set standards in terms of food safety and food processing.

Experts who visit the Stäubli Robotics booth A21 in hall 12 can expect a unique assortment of robots laid out consistently for use in the meat processing industry. No matter whether its meat, sausage, fish, poultry, or alternative products, the robots are used for all types of tasks in direct contact with food.

They separate and cut, debone and sort, trim and portion, handle and pack, and they use the most modern processes like ultrasound or waterjet cutting to get the job done. Even in case of parts that are difficult to handle, the robots remain capable. With the corresponding end of arm tool, for example from the needle gripper to the vacuum gripping system, any application can be implemented. Even the primary packaging of breaded fish sticks (the crumbs make these goods truly tough to grip) is processed reliably and free of errors using robots.

Demo applications close to practical uses at the booth
Even if the complete spectrum of uses cannot be shown at the trade fair, three demo applications should highlight the performance of Stäubli’s machines. A wall-mounted SCARA TS2-80 HE featuring a 3D camera from SICK demonstrates gripping and sorting sausages from a running conveyor belt.

A Stäubli six-axis type TX2-90 HE proves how efficient and flexible robot supported waterjet and ultrasonic cutting techniques are for meat. A TX2-160 HE, a large six-axis model with a range of around two meters in the long arm version, celebrates its food premiere at an integrator’s booth.

Food benchmark: HE special models with H1 oil
There’s a good reason for why Stäubli is only showing HE robots at the exhibition: These models feature protection class IP65 and modified such that they can simply be sprayed off with cleaners conventional in the meat industry. While this type of cleaning procedure would normally mean an abrupt ending for standard robots, HE versions work reliably as expected.

Another big bonus point for use of Stäubli robots: All HE robots are suitable for use of food grade oils of class NSF H1. In this case, Stäubli uses special oil that was developed together with a lubricants manufacturer. This H1 oil guarantees operation of robots without any limit to performance.

Robots in combined HE and H1 models currently qualify as the benchmark in the meat processing industry. They meet all industry-specific hygiene requirements and stand for process reliability, product safety, and sustainability. Naturally, these robot models are also Industry 4.0-compatible and feature the conventional interfaces for digital connections with upper level systems.

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