Automation in meat processing

• All types of meat – beef, lamb, pork, poultry – are first sectioned into workable pieces.
• Hooves, feet, horns, head and tail are removed. The machines calculate conveyor speeds, as well as the swinging movement of the meat, thereby ensuring maximum separation precision. 
• Health marks can be stamped on the cuts of meat.
• Intelligent sensor technology is absolutely essential in these processing steps.

Our robots in the Hygienic Oil (HO) version with tailor-made protective covers are ideally equipped for handling raw meat and other foods:

• KR QUANTEC HO (payload capacity 120-240 kg) with protection ratings up to IP67
• KR IONTEC HO (payload capacity 50 kg) with increased protection requirements
• KR CYBERTECH HO (payload capacity 10-20 kg), the powerful multi-function robot

Integrated camera technology and image processing systems are used in the automated inspection of unpackaged meat products:

• The meat is checked by means of a camera.
• By measuring the marbling of sliced meat, muscle and fat content can be calculated and the price of the food can be accurately determined.
• Additionally, the system searches for blood, foreign bodies, bone residues, etc. to ensure clean further processing and utmost hygiene.
• Samples are taken to check the quality of the food, especially to exclude germs and bacteria.

These robots are used:

• KR AGILUS HM (payload capacity 6-11 kg), a Hygienic Machine for processing raw foods

• The raw meat is now cut into ready-to-eat or ready-to-pack pieces.
• Poultry processing involves trussing whole chickens or preparing individual parts such as breasts and drumsticks.
• After that, the steaks, pork ribs, legs, cutlets, etc. are either further processed or packaged.

These robots are used:

• KR DELTA HM (payload capacity 3-6 kg) and
• KR AGILUS HM (payload capacity 6-11 kg), two Hygienic Machines for direct handling of raw foods
• Larger robots as Hygienic Oil (HO) variant with corresponding protective covers

Cut meat products are often further processed by employees in meat processing plants. One process that is used is ultrasonic cutting. Some examples are:

• Meat is marinated and/or put on skewers.
• Sausages are hung in racks to be smoked.
• Boiled sausage is sliced.
• Discarded meat scraps are further processed into animal feed.
• Alternative proteins are produced.

Depending on the further processing step of the meat, different HO robots (Hygienic Oil) are used, as well as the KR AGILUS HM, a Hygienic Machine that can be used for the direct handling of raw foods.

• Robots package the meat in portions, e.g. in plastic trays, thermoform packaging or tubular bags. The sealing process is also automated.
• During packaging, the aesthetic positioning of the food plays an important role.
• Correct labeling for the supermarket is also carried out automatically.
• The packs are then placed in boxes, with the robot taking over the entire process from holding the box open to folding it.

These robots are used:

Hygienic Machines (HM) for packaging raw meat:

• KR DELTA HM (payload capacity 3-6 kg)
• KR AGILUS HM (payload capacity 6-11 kg) for larger pieces

Robotics in Hygienic Oil (HO) design for handling with ready-packed food:

• KR DELTA HO (payload capacity 3-6 kg), the high-speed robot for high throughput
• KR AGILUS HO (payload capacity 6-11 kg) 

In the final step, the boxes are sorted on pallets and prepared for transportation to butcher shops and supermarkets.

Pallets of the highly perishable food that have been made ready for transport can be temporarily stored in cold stores with the aid of the KR QUANTEC PA Arctic – and are thus immediately ready for delivery when a supermarket orders them at short notice.

These robots are used:

• KR QUANTEC PA (payload capacity 120-240 kg), also available as Hygienic Oil (HO) variant
• KR QUANTEC PA Arctic (payload capacity 120-240 kg) for use in cold-storage rooms down to -30 °C
• KR 40 PA (payload capacity 40 kg), also available as Hygienic Oil variant on request