New KUKA robotic technology guarantees the highest hygiene standards

The food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries impose special requirements on robotics. The new KUKA “Hygienic Oil” (HO) portfolio and “Hygienic Machine” (HM) variants are designed to avoid potential contamination and comply with the highest hygiene requirements.

January 13, 2022

New paths for automation in food production – and beyond

For handling, packaging, palletizing or stacking, the new KUKA Hygienic Oil (HO) portfolio and Hygienic Machine (HM) variants excel in all applications that prioritize hygiene. The robot arms use food-compatible lubricants in all axes and feature a smooth surface for easy cleaning. This design ensures a high hygienic standard and makes these robots attractive for use in other industries as well:

Food

Guaranteed food compatibility, even under difficult production conditions
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Pharmaceuticals

Suitable for demanding applications in direct contact with medicines
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Cosmetics

Hygienic robots also offer safety and efficiency in all cosmetics applications
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FDA-compliant NSF H1 lubricants in all axes

The wide range of Hygienic Oil (HO) robots suits many applications in the secondary sector.

KUKA’s new HO portfolio has been available since the beginning of 2021. “The HO industrial robots meet the hygiene requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and DIN ISO 14159,” explained KUKA Portfolio Manager Dieter Rothenfußer. “They are equipped with certified NSF H1 lubricants in all axes, including the energy supply systems. Maintenance intervals are identical to those of our standard robots.”

The modern lighter gray design of this robotics portfolio makes it particularly easy to detect contamination on the machine. With these measures, KUKA meets the increased safety standards in the secondary sector – and is the only worldwide supplier with this broad portfolio. Hygienic Oil (HO) robots also offer application potential beyond food-industry processing and packaging, for processing of solid or dry products such as chocolate or baked goods.

Hygiene meets robotics: The HO portfolio uses H1 lubricants in all axes

Discover our diverse portfolio of Hygienic Oil (HO) robots

KUKA hygienic robotic technology with H1 lubricants covers payloads from 6 to 240 kg and reaches from 900 to 3,200 mm, – for use along the entire process chain. This encompasses all robot families: from the KR AGILUS to the KR QUANTEC PA – with even faster cycle times. The main axes are carry protection rating IP 65 against dust and water, the wrist axes to IP 67.

KR AGILUS HO (Payload: 6 - 10 kg. Reach: 900 - 1,100 mm)

Thanks to various installation positions, the KR AGILUS HO with NSF H1 lubricant or food-safe grease provides flexible support for handling and pick & place tasks in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

KR AGILUS small robot family

KR CYBERTECH nano HO (Payload: 10 kg. Reach: 1,440 mm)

The KR CYBERTECH nano handling robot has one of the smallest in-line wrists in its class and, as an HO variant, is ideal for handling solid and dry foodstuffs.

KR CYBERTECH nano robot family

KR CYBERTECH HO (Payload: 20 kg. Reach: 1,810 mm)

Greatest power density in the low payload category: the KR CYBERTECH HO is specialized in handling applications, for example in sorting bread and filling transport boxes.

KR CYBERTECH robot family

KR IONTEC HO (Payload: 50 kg, Reach: 2,100 - 2,500 mm)

Workspaces in the food industry are often limited. The KR IONTEC HO impresses with the lowest space requirements in its payload category – with a reach of up to 2,500 mm.

KR IONTEC robot family

KR QUANTEC HO (Payload: 120 - 240 kg. Reach: 2,700 - 3,100 mm)

The KR QUANTEC HO impresses with its wide range of variants. This includes both the reach (up to 3,100 mm) and the spectrum of payloads between 120 and 240 kg. For flexible use in hygienic production.

KR QUANTEC robot family

KR QUANTEC PA HO (Payload: 140 - 240 kg. Reach: 3,200 mm)

The palletizing robot meets the highest requirements in automation of today’s food industry and beverage industry.

KR QUANTEC PA robot family

Hygienic design of components, seals and materials minimizes contamination risks

Easy-to-clean hygienic design

HM machines effortlessly meet all hygiene standards of the primary sector

To meet the requirements of the primary sector, KUKA offers HM (“Hygienic Machine”) robotics that make cleanliness the top priority. The design and materials of these “Hygienic Design” machines are based on EHEDG design guidelines, and allow robots to be used in applications that involve direct contact with foodstuffs and pharmaceutical substances. “Corrosion-resistant housings without inaccessible corners, food-grade lubricants and the use of stainless steel components guarantee the highest level of hygiene,” said Dieter Rothenfußer. At the same time, these robots are particularly resistant to disinfectants and chemical cleaning agents, with a robust, waterproof design that is easy to clean with high pressure. The cleaning-sensitive electrical interface is located underneath the machine rather that in the primary contact area.

Find the ideal HM robot for your application

With FDA-compliant components and H1 lubricants, HM robots impress with a payload of 3-10 kg and a reach of up to 1,200 mm. The 2021 introduction of the stainless-steel KR DELTA into the KUKA portfolio has supplemented performance for the primary sector.

KR AGILUS HM (Payload: 6 - 10 kg. Reach: 900 mm)

The packaging of food now accounts for over 40 percent of production costs. Particularly when it comes to the stringent hygiene regulations, customers can achieve a new, economically sensible level of automation – for example, with the KR AGILUS small robot in the “Hygienic Machine” variant. Its hygienic design allows it to be used in the raw processing of food and medicines. The design and material of this variant are absolutely hygienic; it conforms to the EHEDG requirements, including FDA-compliant components.

Intelligent automation technology in the KR AGILUS: easy cleaning thanks to hygienic design

KR DELTA HM (Payload: 3 kg, Reach: 1,200 mm)

The KR DELTA HM machine is designed according to the principle of hygienic design. Made entirely of stainless steel, the parallel arm robot impressively performs challenging pick & place tasks (FDA-compliant components, adherence to EHEDG guidelines). Furthermore, the KR DELTA is designed to require minimal maintenance: the gear unit is encapsulated and the ball joints are made of a self-lubricating material.

More about KUKA delta robots in hygienic design

The hygienic design is characterized by easy cleaning of all components, especially under high pressure.

We want to continue expanding the KR DELTA offering for rapid pick and place tasks, especially in the packaging sector. This also applies to corresponding variants of our KR SCARA robots.

Dieter Rothenfußer, Portfolio Manager