Innovations Address Efficiency and Food Safety Concerns in the European Food Manufacturing Industry

Kaiseraugst, Switzerland – Rotzinger Group, a leading provider of automation solutions, is set to showcase its advanced Hygienic Conveyor for dry cleaning and the Robot with an Integrated Buffer at iba Munich, booth B-470. Designed for confectionery and bakery products, the hygienic conveyor is optimized for dry cleaning, ensuring compliance with stringent food safety regulations in European food manufacturing. Leveraging decades of expertise in pick and place delta robots, buffering, and conveying, the new integrated solution from Rotzinger combines flexibility, compactness, and ease of operation to boost uptime and reduce the total cost of ownership.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with our European customers and prospects in the food sector at iba Munich,” says Christian Vouillamoz, product manager at Rotzinger Group. “Our Hygienic Conveyor for dry cleaning and Robot with an Integrated Buffer have been specifically designed to tackle the escalating concerns regarding efficiencies and heightened sanitary requirements in food production. With their intuitive controls and streamlined design, these solutions aim to enhance productivity and optimize operations.”

Enhancing Hygiene Standards with an Innovative Conveyor for Dry Cleaning

Foodborne illnesses affect a significant number of individuals in Europe each year, highlighting the importance of preventing contamination and bacterial buildup in food production facilities.

Rotzinger has developed a Hygienic Conveyor for dry cleaning, specifically designed to address food safety concerns and adhere to the highest hygienic standards. This innovative conveyor incorporates an intelligent cleaning design featuring a foldable belt and beveled or rounded horizontal surfaces that prevent the accumulation of dirt particles and crumbs, thereby reducing the risk of mold infestation. The side panels no longer run horizontally parallel to the belt but are inclined at 45 degrees to allow easier shedding of product residue. A hinged belt support enables easy access for efficient cleaning and maintenance. The conveyor’s stainless-steel construction ensures durability and long-lasting performance.

Furthermore, the Hygienic Conveyor provides flexibility in size range, accommodating a wide range of requirements. It offers width options ranging from 150 to 1800 mm and length options from 400 to 35,000 mm, allowing it to easily meet the most challenging layout requirements.

Labor Shortages Driving the Need for Automation

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Europe’s economy and labor market, causing a precipitous decline, as highlighted in the EURES Report on labor shortages and surpluses 2022¹. This downturn has been further emphasized by projections from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB)², which predicts a potential workforce reduction of seven million in Germany by 2035. In response to these challenges, Rotzinger Group has developed the Robot with an Integrated Buffer. This advanced machine can efficiently pick and place unpacked and packed products into various packaging formats, including cartons, cases, thermoforms, flow-wrappers, and cartoning machines. In doing so, it offers a viable solution to address labor shortages while also optimizing production processes in the face of adversity.

With its modular design and flexibility, this integrated solution combines delta robots, buffers, and conveyors in one cell with a reduced footprint, enabling greater efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. The use of a single controller and a unified setup philosophy enables hassle-free maintenance and straightforward operation, eliminating the need for complex programming or extensive training. The Robot with an Integrated Buffer can be operated by a sole operator, offering simple changeovers facilitated by recipe selection, which automatically adjusts the necessary parameters with just a few clicks.

Increased Need for Higher Efficiency

In response to the growing demand for improved efficiencies to counteract rising energy and raw material costs, European food manufacturers are turning to automation for their packaging processes. The Robot with an Integrated Buffer increases line efficiency and eliminates the need for additional linking conveyors and frames, resulting in cost savings and improved layout.

Equipped with vision-guided high-speed robots, this innovative machine accurately identifies incoming products on the conveyor belt and precisely places them in the feeding process. It utilizes optimal counterflow or co-flow techniques, providing versatile solutions to meet diverse production requirements. By consolidating these capabilities within a single solution, manufacturers can optimize their production lines and achieve early production start-up.

Integrated Solution Supplier for Successful Execution

Rotzinger combines profound knowledge and experience in robotics, buffering, and conveying from Demaurex, Rotzinger, and Transver, resulting in efficient systems or even new integrated products based on proven solutions. European food

manufacturers can benefit from the intuitive Gemini control software platform and local service support, enhancing their operations and maximizing efficiency.

Visit booth B-470 to experience these game-changing solutions at iba Munich 2023.

Want to know more? Please visit www.rotzingergroup.com.

About the company

The Rotzinger Group originated from Rotzinger AG in Switzerland. Initially, the portfolio of the Rotzinger Group consisted of conveying and buffering systems, with a history that stretches back several years. In 2022, the Group expanded its operations to provide equipment, turnkey systems, and digital solutions for the food, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Committed to providing cost-effective solutions, the Group prioritizes customer satisfaction and currently employs over 500 professionals across Europe and North America.

¹ The EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2022 

² https://iab.de/