Automation in the food industry

Delivering raw materials, processing food, packaging, palletising and preparing for dispatch - KUKA robots can do it all. With our holistic automation portfolio, you can master applications in the food industry quickly and efficiently.

Intelligent and flexible automation along the entire production chain.

From delivery to distribution - worldwide.

The process chain in the food industry usually starts with the delivery of the raw materials. This is where KUKA comes in - and, together with Swisslog, a KUKA Group company, and other partners, implements automation solutions for logistics processes, warehouses and distribution centers. In addition, KUKA can intelligently automate every other step in food processing. The advantages: higher productivity, low costs and consistently high quality in your process.

Handling of primary and secondary foods

Fast, precise, hygienic

Our robotic solutions for you:

KR DELTA HM (3 kg payload), KR AGILUS HM (6-axis robot, 6-10 kg payload) - The robots in the Hygienic Machine design are made entirely of stainless steel, are easy to clean and disinfect, FDA certified components.
KR AGILUS HO (6-axis robots, 6-10 kg payload) - The robots are built with food-grade lubricants in all axes, are easy to clean and disinfect.
KUKA.PickControl –Conveyor tracking software with integrated image processing.

Customer Examples: Food handling and processing

Palletising

Extremely strong, fast, flexible

Our robotic solution for you:

KUKA Palletizing robots:
- KR 40 PA ( 40 kg payload)
- KR QUANTEC PA (120-240 kg payload)
- KR 300 PA (300 kg payload)
- KR 470 PA (470 kg payload)
- KR 700 PA (700 kg payload)
Linear units and portal robots – Allow the space-saving automation of particularly large areas
KUKA.PLC mxAutomation – Software for the integration of robots into your machine network
KUKA.PalletTech – Software allows easy configuration of palletizing tasks with different packing patterns and stations.

Customer examples: Food palletizing

Pick and Place

Lightning fast, spotless, error-free

Our robotic solution for you:

KR DELTA HM (3 kg payload), KR AGILUS HM (6-axis robots, 6-10 kg payload) - The robots in the Hygienic Machine design are completely made of stainless steel, are easy to clean and disinfect, FDA certified components.
KR AGILUS HO (6-axis robots, 6-10 kg payload) - The robots are built with food grade lubricants in all axes, are easy to clean and disinfect.
KR SCARA – Ultra-compact robots tailor-made for highest performance
KMP 1500 (AGV) – Material transport in dynamic environments
Standard robots for all installation positions – KR CYBERTECH (8-22 kg payload), KR IONTEC (20-70 kg payload)
KUKA.PickControl – The software ensures optimum material flow.
KUKA.VisionTech – Software for 2D object recognition, quality control and code and OCR recognition.
KUKA.ConveyorTech – The software automatically adapts the robot actions to the movement of the flow and conveyor belts.

Customer examples: Automated pick & place

Distribution

Fast transport, faster to the end customer

Our robotic solutions for you:

Automated solutions from Swisslog
KUKA Mobile Plattforms (AGVs)
KR QUANTEC PA (120-240 kg payload) – Robots with food-grade lubricants in all axes
KUKA.PalletTech –Software for simple and user-friendly configuration and execution of palletising tasks.
KUKA.VisionTech – Software for 2D object recognition, quality control and code and OCR recognition.
KUKA.ConveyorTech – The software adapts the robot actions to the movement of the flow and conveyor belts.

Customer examples: Logistic solutions

KUKA makes the difference: Everything from a single source

Fast and hygienic robotics, in-depth know-how in the food industry and global customer service

KUKA's portfolio includes numerous machines for modern food operations: for the highest hygiene requirements, cold-resistant variants and with food-grade lubricants in all payload classes. For more flexibility, we offer mobile platforms as well an ideal software for important process steps: such as handling, pick-and-place or palletising tasks.

Robots & warehouse solutions
- Food-grade robotics
- Robots in many payloads
- High availability
- Robots for deep freeze
- Logistics solutions, AMRs and AGVs
- Warehouse solutions
Robotic for the food industry
Smart software
- Application specific software packages
- For every process step in your company
- Simulation and virtual commissioning
- Offline programming
- Visualization software
Discover KUKA software
Global all-round service
- Customer support 24/7/365
- Broad portfolio of e-services
- Global partner network
- 360° support:
  services across the entire product life cycle
- Training of employees on site or digitally
KUKA Service-Portfolio
References
- Handling for primary processing
- Handling for secondary applications
- Palletising/ depalletising
- Pick and place
- Intralogistics solutions
View references

Whitepaper whets appetite for automation in the food industry.

KUKA already offers solutions for over 1,000 customers in the food industry and knows their needs and challenges. With high-quality ingredients - robots, software, service - KUKA now provides recipes with a guarantee of success for the entire process chain in this white paper. From delivery to distribution, for a wide range of industries. Eight practical examples provide an impressive insight.

Discover automation solutions that please everyone's tastes

Download White Paper

Optimally equipped with KUKA robots

Fast handling robots, also in hygienic design

KR DELTA HM

High-speed robot in the Hygienic Machine version suits for handling and picking. Low maintenance, all stainless steel, EHEDG & US FDA certified.

KR AGILUS HM

6-axis articulated robot is available as a Hygienic Machine perfectly suited for direct contact with unwrapped food.

KR SCARA

6 - 12 kg payload, highest precision, shortest cycle times, high speed, low weight - and all this at an affordable price.

Palletising & handling at a high level

Deep-freeze palletiser (up to -30 °C)

The QUANTEC PA palletises quickly and precisely even at freezing temperatures. Thanks to the arctic design, it does not require a protective cover.

Articulated robots HO (Hygienic Oil)

IP65/IP67 protection class articulated robots, with food-grade lubricants in all axes, meet the high requirements in the secondary food processing.

Flexible packaging robots: Whether floor, ceiling or wall

KR CYBERTECH

The powerful, compact multifunctional robots impress with high integration density and minimal interference contours.

KR CYBERTECH nano

Process robots handle small food products and packaging efficiently, offering maximum variety with minimal investment and energy costs.

KR IONTEC

Versatile robot combines compact design with the largest workspace in its class for optimal space utilization?with low space requirement?

Intaralogistics solutions and warehouse automation

KMP 600S diffDrive

The HRC-capable mobile platform with a payload of up to 600 kilograms for in-house logistics: Fast, safe, enduring

KMP 1500P diffDrive

The autonomous mobile robot with a load capacity of up to 1.5 tons lifts all types of goods and can be easily integrated into any process.

KMP 3000P

The mobile platform transports heavy weights of up to 3 tons in intralogistics. It moves omnidirectionally in space.

KUKA robots are convincing across all industries: Whether meat processing, baked goods or dairy products

What tasks can a robot perform in food processing?

Meat processing
- Wrapping hot dogs in thermoforming film
- Packing ham
- Sorting of salami sticks
- Palletising white sausages in tins
Proteins & Meat Substitutes
- Handling insect meal
- Pickling vegan burger patties
- Palletising plant-based frozen products
- Cutting alternative proteins
Dairy products
- Cheese rind removal and cutting
- Handling mozarella blocks
- Cleaning cheese moulds
- Palletising yoghurt pots
Baked goods & cereals
- Cutting bread and cakes
- Stacking baguettes in transport boxes
- Handling loaded baking trays
- Loading flour sacks in transport logistics

Fruit & Vegetables
- Sorting peppers by color
- Palletising fruit and vegetables
- Inspect potatoes for damage and cut
- Commissioning empty vegetable crates
Confectionery & Ice Cream
- Filling praline moulds
- Packing chocolate bars
- Sorting biscuits
- Palletising ice cream in the cold store
Ready meals
- Spreading tomato sauce on pizza
- Packing sandwiches
- Stacking ready-made lasagne before further packaging
- Palletising instant soups
Food Services
- Preparation of drinks
- Sandwich topping
- Assembling trays
- Preparing and serving meals

Success recipe for greater competitiveness: flexible and easy-to-operate automation for food production

Brochure for more information

Intelligent software for powerful performance

Simple operation and fast, intuitive programming

KUKA.PickControl

The software automatically adapts the robot to the movement of the conveyor belts. This allows the robot to process parts on a moving belt and also place them on others.

KUKA.ConveyerTech

The software with integrated image processing enables automated picking & packing of unsorted parts such as various fruits on several flow/conveyor belts.

KUKA.FlexPall

The software offers easy configuration and execution of palletizing tasks with different packing patterns and stations - suitable for large and small packages or beverage crates.

KUKA.VisionTech

Application software for 2D object recognition, quality control and code and OCR recognition. Perfect for rejecting defective food or damaged packaging.

KUKA.Sim

Simulation software: From offline programming to robot simulation and virtual commissioning. Fast, simple and perfect for every food operation.

KUKA.PLCmxAutomation

Control software that is ideal for operating robot-based production machines with external controls and minimal effort in terms of programming.

KUKA.HMI easy

Thanks to the visualisation software, simple and intuitive operation of several robots in the food and also in the beverage industry is made possible.

KUKA supports with comprehensive expertise - whether with technical support or process development

Based on many years of experience, KUKA offers extensive support and access to all the resources you need, including virtual or face-to-face training, easily available spare parts and much more. Plus, thanks to our global network of System Partners, we're always close by - and ready to help around the clock. We work with you to customize every aspect of your automation solution to your application requirements.

Need help automating your application??

Send non-binding request

Automation in the food industry

Intelligent and flexible automation along the entire production chain.

From delivery to distribution - worldwide.

Fast, precise, hygienic

Our robotic solutions for you:

Extremely strong, fast, flexible

Lightning fast, spotless, error-free

Our robotic solution for you:

Fast transport, faster to the end customer

Our robotic solutions for you:

KUKA makes the difference: Everything from a single source

Fast and hygienic robotics, in-depth know-how in the food industry and global customer service

Robots & warehouse solutions

Smart software

Global all-round service

References

Discover automation solutions that please everyone's tastes

The future of the food industry: How highly flexible technology improves quality and safety

Optimally equipped with KUKA robots

Fast handling robots, also in hygienic design

KR DELTA HM

KR AGILUS HM

KR SCARA

Palletising & handling at a high level

Deep-freeze palletiser (up to -30 °C)

Articulated robots HO (Hygienic Oil)

Flexible packaging robots: Whether floor, ceiling or wall

KR CYBERTECH

KR CYBERTECH nano

KR IONTEC

Intaralogistics solutions and warehouse automation

KMP 600S diffDrive

KMP 1500P diffDrive

KMP 3000P

KUKA robots are convincing across all industries: Whether meat processing, baked goods or dairy products

What tasks can a robot perform in food processing?

Meat processing

Proteins & Meat Substitutes

Dairy products

Baked goods & cereals

Fruit & Vegetables

Confectionery & Ice Cream

Ready meals

Food Services

Palletizing Robot Retrofit with KUKA – Future-Ready Automation

Food palletizing: Robots stack insects

Palletizer for chicken eggs

Small robots pack sandwiches

Food-grade robot processes cheese

Stacking milk crates on pallets in cold storage warehouse

DELTA robot distributes spoons

KUKA palletizing robot stacks soft drinks at Pepsi

Success recipe for greater competitiveness: flexible and easy-to-operate automation for food production

Intelligent software for powerful performance

Simple operation and fast, intuitive programming

KUKA.PickControl

KUKA.ConveyerTech

KUKA.FlexPall

KUKA.VisionTech

KUKA.Sim

KUKA.PLCmxAutomation

KUKA.HMI easy

KUKA supports with comprehensive expertise - whether with technical support or process development

Need help automating your application??

Find an integrator close to you

What you need for easy automation:

Buy robots and services online

KUKA services

KUKA College