Food automation: robotic solutions for any culinary challenge

Delivering raw materials, processing food, packaging, palletizing 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.

Flexible and smart automation across the entire food 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 automation technology can intelligently automate every other step in food processing and manufacturing. The advantages: higher productivity, low costs and consistently high quality in your process.

Delivery & depalletizing

Mobility, strength, long ranges

Our robotics solutions for you:

Automated storage solutions from Swisslog
KUKA Mobile Plattforms (AGVs)
KR QUANTEC PA (120-240 kg Payload) – Fastest, most precise and strongest palletiser on the market
KR FORTEC – Versatile heavy duty robots
- KR 360 FORTEC (240-360 kg Payload)
- KR 500 FORTEC (340-500 kg Payload)
Linear units and portal robots – Allow space-saving automation of particularly large areas

Customer examples: Palletising of food

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

Palletizing

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

Discover entire robotic portfolio customized for food industry in KUKA Marketplace

Everything from a single source

Fast and hygienic robotics, deep food-processing expertise and global support

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

Robots & industry warehouse solutions
- Industrial robots with NSF H1 compliant food oil
- Food processing robots in hygienic design
- Robotic for deep freeze manufacturing
- Logistics automation, AMR, AI-powered fleet management
Robotic for the food industry
Smart software
- Software for every step of food production processes
- Simulation and virtual commissioning
- Offline programming
- Vision-guided technology
- Condition Monitoring, Asset Management or Predictive Maintenance
Discover KUKA software
Global all-round service
- Customer support 24/7/365
- Broad portfolio of e-services
- Global partner network
- Feasibility studies, test setups
- 360° support:
  services across the entire product life cycle
- Training of employees on site or digitally
KUKA Service-Portfolio
References
- Handling for primary food processing
- Handling for secondary food processing
- Primary and secondary packaging and palletizing in food manufacturing
- Pick & place automation
- State-of-the-art intralogistics solutions
View references

Ebook: Boost your ROI with KUKA food robotics

KUKA already offers solutions for over 1,000 customers in the food industry and knows their needs and challenges. With high-quality ingredients - robotic technology, software, service - KUKA provides recipes with a guarantee of success for the entire food industry in this ebook.

Eight practical examples provide an impressive insight.

Download Ebook

Optimally equipped with food robotics from KUKA

Fast handling robots, also in hygienic design

KR DELTA HM

High-speed robot designed for primary food handling and picking of unwrapped products. Low maintenance, all stainless steel, EHEDG & US FDA certified?ensures food safety.

KR AGILUS HM

6-axis food-grade robot, tailored for primary food processing. Equipped with food-grade lubrications, special finishes and features, ideal for direct contact with unwrapped food.

KR SCARA

Ultra-compact SCARA robot offers high precision, short cycle times, and?highly competitive price-to-performance ratio, ideal for food industry applications.

Food palletizing & packaging robots

Deep-freeze palletizer (up to -30 °C)

Cold-resistant palletizes quickly and precisely even at freezing temperatures. It operates without a protective suit or robotic arm heater.

HO robots (NSF H1 food-grade oil)

Articulated robots, with food-grade grease in all axes, meet the high requirements?food safety standards in food processing.

Flexible food 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 autonomous transport 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 omni

Omnidirectional transport platform: Carries up to 3 tons, expandable to 6 tons through "load sharing".

KUKA robots are convincing in all food production applications: Whether meat processing, baked goods or dairy products

What tasks can a food-processing robot perform?

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

Fruit & Vegetables
- Sorting peppers by color
- Palletizing fruit & vegetables
- Check potatoes for damage
- Commissioning empty vegetable crates
Confectionery & Ice Cream
- Filling praline moulds
- Packing chocolate bars
- Sorting biscuits
- Palletizing ice cream in the cold store
Ready meals
- Applying Pizza Sauce
- Packing sandwiches
- Stacking ready-made lasagna before further packaging
- Palletizing instant soups
Food Services
- Preparation of drinks
- Sandwich topping
- Assembling trays
- Preparing and serving meals

How are KUKA industrial robots utilized in the food industry by various customers?

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 items or damaged packaging.

KUKA.Sim

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

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 visualization 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

Food automation: robotic solutions for any culinary challenge

Flexible and smart automation across the entire food production chain

From delivery to distribution - worldwide

Mobility, strength, long ranges

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:

Everything from a single source

Fast and hygienic robotics, deep food-processing expertise and global support

Robots & industry warehouse solutions

Smart software

Global all-round service

References

Eight practical examples provide an impressive insight.

Discover benefits of automation in food industry

Optimally equipped with food robotics from KUKA

Fast handling robots, also in hygienic design

KR DELTA HM

KR AGILUS HM

KR SCARA

Food palletizing & packaging robots

Deep-freeze palletizer (up to -30 °C)

HO robots (NSF H1 food-grade oil)

Flexible food 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 omni

KUKA robots are convincing in all food production applications: Whether meat processing, baked goods or dairy products

What tasks can a food-processing robot perform?

Meat processing

Protein industrie

Dairy products

Baked goods & cereals

Fruit & Vegetables

Confectionery & Ice Cream

Ready meals

Food Services

How are KUKA industrial robots utilized in the food industry by various customers?

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

KUKA Robot Guide