5 Considerations For Adding Robotics to a Sandwich Assembly Line

Food production managers looking to optimize their lines with robotics must consider more than just automation capabilities. 

This blog dives deep into practical considerations like space requirements, operator ease, sanitation protocols, and the impact of cost and lead times on successful implementation.

EQUIPMENT FOOTPRINT & FACILITY LAYOUT

Incorporating sandwich assembly robotics into a production facility requires careful consideration of the equipment's footprint and layout. Integrating robotics into an existing facility can require substantial space, often demanding significant square footage to accommodate the robot, vision system, controls, and necessary safety zones. Considering this spatial demand is critical as it may entail rearranging existing layouts or expanding the facility's footprint, which could involve substantial costs and logistical complexities.

APPLICATIONS

Automating the sandwich assembly process with robotics is a strategic decision to improve efficiency, accuracy, consistency, and throughput while replacing manual labor. High-care robotic applications automate bread and ingredient handling on sandwich assembly lines, such as:

• Wrap and tortilla denesting onto the production line
• Bread and ingredient pick and place
• Sandwich alignment and positioning
• Bread lidding
• Sandwich stacking
• Pick and place into packaging (skilleting)

Each of these applications is just a piece of the puzzle; the overarching benefit of integrating robotics equipment lies in how these applications seamlessly integrate, creating a synchronized system that optimizes every facet of sandwich assembly. By automating sandwich assembly with robotics equipment, producers not only enhance operational efficiency but also uphold the integrity of their product, securing a competitive edge in the market.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Integrating robotic sandwich assembly requires careful consideration of your workforce. Unlike manual and semi-automatic assembly, using robotics demands a new skill set. Existing staff may need to be retrained or replaced. User-friendly equipment with intuitive interfaces, training materials, and technical support ease this transition. The complexity of the robots and your employees' automation experience will determine training intensity, which can range from basic to in-depth.

Additionally, ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting procedures must be set up to ensure optimal performance and minimize downtime. Understanding the human resources necessary to run and maintain the robotics equipment is essential for successful integration into your sandwich assembly process.

SANITATION AND CLEANING

Since the sandwich assembly robotics equipment will directly contact food products, consideration of cleaning and sanitation requirements is paramount. Maintaining the cleanliness of the robotics equipment is essential for meeting food safety standards and preventing contamination. Therefore, evaluating how easily the equipment can be cleaned and sanitized is critical. Factors such as the design complexity, material composition, and accessibility of critical components influence how easily and effectively the equipment can be cleaned. Additionally, you should assess the compatibility of cleaning agents with the robotic equipment to avoid damage to or deterioration of the machines. Prioritizing equipment that facilitates thorough and efficient cleaning processes is imperative for maintaining high hygiene standards and ensuring the integrity of food products.

PRICE AND LEAD TIME

While the price of sandwich assembly robotics equipment has decreased in recent years, it’s still important when integrating automation into your sandwich production facility. Due to the recent cost reductions and growing adoption of automation equipment, the lead time for getting robotics equipment has become a significant factor in decision-making. As it’s not uncommon for robotics suppliers to have a backlog of nearly a year, planning has become essential for companies seeking to automate their sandwich assembly process. By considering the price and lead time implications of sandwich assembly robotics equipment, companies can effectively align their automation strategies with their production needs, ensure timely implementation, and maximize the long-term benefits of automation in the sandwich production industry.

TRUST GROTE WITH YOUR SANDWICH ASSEMBLY ROBOTICS

At Grote, we have more than 50 years of experience in food processing. We design and manufacture sandwich assembly robotics equipment that can increase the efficiency and consistency of your production process while maintaining product integrity and food safety standards. Use the links below to explore our sandwich assembly robotics solutions, or contact us for help with your sandwich assembly process.

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