September/October 2019 - 6

THE PROCESS
ZEKE JENNINGS
Robotics on the horizon
Robotics are the way of the future in the food processing line.
It's to what degree that remains to be determined.
The robot and cobot (collaborative robot) wave
Zeke Jennings
Managing Editor
was in full effect at the recent PACK EXPO Las
Vegas trade show. At nearly every turn, robots
were picking, packing and sorting products.
PACK EXPO, which is put on by the Association
for Packaging and Processing Technologies, or
PMMI, had a portion of the show floor dedicated
to robots, called the " Robotics Zone, " and several
of the education sessions dealt with robotics.
In speaking with attendees and vendors during
the show, a common theme was labor. More
specifically, finding enough people with the skill to do the jobs
required. In theory, robotics could be a game-changer in this regard.
Robots:
* Are faster
* Don't call in sick
* Don't take breaks
* Don't expect benefits or promotions
Again, all of that is in theory. In reality, they do malfunction
occasionally and require periodic maintenance. Of course, then
there is the cost of the product and the implementation, which
can be substantial.
Some folks bemoan automation as an elimination of job
possibilities for people. Whether it's in food production for
retail or foodservice, said jobs are going unfilled. Working on a
production line is becoming less and less desirable.
Turning to robotics isn't so much about cutting costs as it is
being able to meet production needs.
Other benefits include food and worker safety. If robotics can be
used to perform hazardous tasks, it will result in fewer on-the-job
injuries. Additionally, less human handling of food reduces the
chance poor hygiene could compromise the product.
As much as robots can do, limits do remain. For example, one
food producer said during an interactive forum at PACK EXPO
that robotics haven't caught up to humans when it comes to
detecting packaging defects.
" If I need people to inspect the products when they go into the
case, I may as well have them putting them in the case too, " he said.
Numerous representatives from robotics companies told me the
technology is close, however. Through machine learning, robots
on the production line soon - probably within five years - will
be able to detect defects in produce, not just determine if a piece
of fruit or a vegetable meets size requirements.
So, take a good look at your production line. Chances are, it's
going to look quite different in the not-too-distant future.
Office 616-887-9008
Managing Editor Zeke Jennings, 616-520-2159
zjennings@greatamericanpublish.com
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Contributing Editors Gary Pullano, 616-520-2144
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CFO & Director of Deb Carnes, 616-520-2169
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CEO Matt McCallum, 616-520-2133
publisher@produceprocessing.net
Editorial Advisory Board
Adrienne Seiling, American Frozen Food Institute
Bob Swartwout, Direct Advantage
Rudi Groppe, Heinzen Manufacturing International
Lou Cooperhouse, Rutgers Food Innovation Center
Sherrie Rosenblatt, Can Manufacturers Institute
ISSN 2375-3447
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September/October 2019

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