Collaborative Robots | EMEA

High hurdles to introducing robots in the Food Processing field
In Japan, where the population is decreasing, many industries are beginning to struggle with the lack of workforce.
It is especially serious in the area of food processing. Many of the jobs involving food that is soft and comes in various sizes can only be handled by humans, as conventional industrial robots (large robots with fencing around them) cannot process this food. There have been many challenging obstacles in terms of technology, hygiene and safety, in introducing robots to work with humans on food manufacturing lines. Because of this, it has been difficult to supplement the workforce shortage with robots.

Collaborative robots that work alongside humans open up possibilities

Onsite at food processing and manufacturing locations processing box lunches and prepared foods, food ingredients are cut, measured and arranged on trays, and ingredients are then packed and sorted. If manufacturing processes are restructured by separating “work that only humans can do” from “work that robots can do,” the work that used to be handled only by humans can now be handled by collaborative robots. This improves productivity while maintaining a smaller workforce. For example, it is now possible to rely on collaborative robots for cutting food and packing ingredients, while humans take care of other work.

In order to introduce collaborative robots that work alongside humans, the utmost in safety is required. IDEC Group’s abundant experience and reputation for high-quality control technology and machine safety can assure your collaborative safety. Robot arms are equipped with sensors and stop upon detecting human motion or anything deemed dangerous. Robots that not only repeat pre-registered motions, but moves autonomously, can never harm humans. Rather, these robots can supplement human work in various scenarios and work collaboratively when their systems are designed to do so.

At IDEC’s Collaborative Safety Robot Technical Center, we can provide the best solutions to construct safe systems for customers planning to use robots.

Collaborative robots are highly controlled and safe with high technology that can be introduced and applied in the three product industries of food products, medical products and cosmetic products. Partial automation of these processes not only resolves the workforce shortage, but also improves productivity, which in turn impacts how people work in those industries.

Resolve workforce shortage, improve work efficiency, and shift to a workplace where humans can add value
IDEC contributes to improving safety and productivity on production floors by providing collaborative robot systems. By introducing collaborative robot systems, the workload of each employee can be reduced, which leads to improved motivation and competitiveness. Furthermore, with employees released from simple and stressful work, they can use their extra time completing more complex tasks. Collaborative safety created by collaborative robots provides value and changes the way people work on manufacturing floors.