A pallet needs to be moved from production to a storage area. The task may sound simple and familiar. In a food production facility, however, the route may pass through a cold room, a wet production area or a zone that is cleaned several times a day.
Here, the robot is exposed to conditions rarely found to the same extent in dry, temperature-controlled production environments. Water, condensation, low temperatures and cleaning chemicals become part of its daily operation. These conditions place specific demands on the robot’s construction and should be considered from the beginning.
The Same Transport Task Under Very Different Conditions
Food production covers a wide range of processes, but many of these environments share certain characteristics. Floors may be wet. Temperatures may be low or vary between different zones. Equipment may be exposed to foam, water and chemicals during cleaning.
Many conventional AGVs and AMRs are designed for dry environments with relatively stable temperatures. They may be well suited to internal transport in a warehouse or traditional production facility. Food production environments introduce additional conditions that the robot’s materials, components and protection must be able to withstand over time.
Navigation, lifting capacity, safety and integration remain central considerations when selecting a robot. Food production adds material selection, ingress protection, cleaning methods and temperature conditions to the specification.
Cold Temperatures Also Mean Condensation
Low temperatures are an important operating condition in themselves. Temperature differences between areas can also create condensation on cold surfaces and exposed parts of the equipment.
The issue therefore extends beyond whether the battery can operate inside a cold room. Moisture can affect electronics, sensors, connectors and mechanical components if the robot is not adequately protected for the environment. Repeated transitions between cold and warm zones should therefore be assessed alongside the lowest and highest operating temperatures.
Wet floors also play a role. The surface can affect traction and movement, while joints, drains, slopes and changes in floor level may influence the robot’s operation. The environment should therefore be assessed along the actual route and under the conditions experienced during a typical production day.
Cleaning Is Part of Daily Operations
Cleaning procedures are often intensive in the food industry. Production areas may be treated with water, foam and various chemicals, and the process may be repeated several times a day.
Material selection is therefore particularly important in environments where robots are regularly exposed to water and cleaning chemicals.
The WEWO Stainless Steel series is manufactured from 316 stainless steel and features IP65 protection. This material is used in demanding environments due to its resistance to moisture and various forms of chemical exposure.
The robots also feature a hygienic design with suitable surfaces and protected joints.
The same considerations apply to other industries with strict requirements for hygiene, cleaning and materials. Examples include pharmaceutical production areas and other industries where equipment is washed frequently or regularly exposed to moisture and chemicals.
The Choice Between a Palletmover and a Mover Depends on the Load
The WEWO Stainless Steel series is available in two models designed for different internal transport tasks
A Palletmover is used for the automated transport of pallets, carts and other suitable load carriers.
A Mover is an underride AGV. It travels beneath a compatible load carrier and transports it to the next destination.
Both models can, for example, be integrated into the material flow between production, packaging, cold storage and warehouse areas.
The choice between the two models depends on what needs to be transported. The weight and stability of the load, the design of the load carrier, the collection method and the delivery points must all be compatible with the robot.
