PRESS
RELEASE
IFFA Review
A record number of visitors from all over the world came to see us at IFFA. Our huge range of portioning, grading and end-of-line weighing machines and systems attracted a great deal of interest – so much so, that at times our hospitality facility was stretched to the limit! We even had to arrange for more literature to be sent out from the UK! Our unique, all new Robot Portion Loading System, was undoubtedly one of the stars of the show and demonstrated the way forward in the handling of fresh meat products. (you can read all about it in the short article detailed below) If you didn’t visit IFFA or if you did and somehow missed us, take a look at the press release or contact us and we’ll be pleased to tell you more about our new ideas for profitable processing.
Robot Portion Loading. A first from AEW Delford Systems
Robots
are populating the food industry in increasing numbers as processors
intensify their continuing, relentless search for faster, more economic
methods of production that will enable them to satisfy the insatiable
demands of modern retailers and the rapidly changing lifestyles of consumers.
Robots can effectively perform in a number of vital production roles
including, for example, the picking up and placing of individual products
or groups of products from, say, a conveyor to packaging trays.
There’s
nothing particularly new or revolutionary about ‘Picking
and Placing’ except that where fresh or ‘floppy’ products,
like fresh meat or stacks of bacon are concerned, it has been startlingly
ineffective – until now.
AEW
Delford Systems have introduced a Robot Portion Loading System (RPLS)
that will pick single, fresh or frozen, bone-in or boneless meat portions
or sliced groups – like bacon or cooked meats – from a portioning
slicer, saw or conveyor and place them straight into trays or thermoformers
ready for packing.
The company has worked closely with one of the world’s
leading robot manufacturers, ABB of Sweden, to produce this new system
which
utilises vision technology to accurately recognise the position and orientation
of portions on the conveyor. This enables the machine’s unique,
mechanical action gripper to gently – but quickly – lift,
transfer and place the portioned product with great accuracy into the
tray or thermoformer.
High levels of hygiene are achieved with RPLS and
the smooth, consistent gripper movement minimises the risk of product
damage – providing
production continuity and excellent presentation.
Grading
The robot portion loading system (RPLS) has the ability to identify
incorrectly sized or misshapen portions and place them as required – or
allow them to pass down the line for further grading. The system will
have the ability to regulate product quality and specification by assessing
fat content levels through the
portion’s size and shape.
When combined and interfaced with an AEW Delford Systems portioning slicer
or saw, the advantages of high output, high yields, superb product presentation,
speed of production, space saving and flexibility in terms of application,
become very obvious and indeed, attractive.
Flexibility
Production
output and speed can be varied according to needs – from
small to medium sized and even high volume applications. Up to six
pick and place head units can be operated from a single vision and
control
system, providing a very high level of flexibility and throughput at
an economical price.
Furthermore, each of the six heads can be programmed as required to perform
different tasks e.g. varying product presentation layouts (such as singles
or shingles) or the number of products in a tray.
RPLS can be designed, adapted and tailored precisely to a client’s
needs. It can be integrated with and interfaced to, virtually any other
machine in a production system e.g. slicers, saws, thermoformers and
tray sealers. AEW Delford Systems stress that while the RPLS has already
been successfully demonstrated, its full potential and ability have
yet to be realised. Several leading processors have expressed considerable
interest and production trials in a number of plants are under way.
For more information please contact
us
