Automation & Robotic Technologies (A&RT), a leading designer and integrated engineering solutions provider of automation systems in Australia, recently celebrated 20-years in business – 14 of those as an ABB Authorised Value Provider (AVP).
The company is globally recognised for its high-speed picking projects and specialist robotic solutions for the food and beverage industry.
The company’s team of experts have provided intricate systems to support applications such as meat palletising, picking and packaging, as well as the handling of frozen foods, baked products, omelettes, food-grade oils, and even tofu.
“We’re proud to supply systems to every large food manufacturer in Australia,” said Mike Urban, co-managing director at A&RT.
“With the support of ABB Robotics, we’ve always been confident that we’ll meet our customers’ needs as we’re working with the best robotic technology manufacturer – the original patent holders of Delta robots and developers of the RobotStudio Suite – so we can innovatively integrate AI with real intelligence into our work.”
A long-standing partnership, A&RT were the recipients an ABB Robotics lifetime achievement award in 2019.
ABB's AVPs are committed to promoting progress in robotic automation to propel knowledge of the benefits of robot applications around the world. The network benefits from expert support for design challenges, drawing on the expertise of both local and global specialists.
Additionally, AVPs have access to training courses for technicians and premier programming and simulation software such as ABB’s RobotStudio tool, which supports with advanced robot programming without ever needing physical hardware.
This comprehensive support ensures AVPs are equipped with the resources to drive success in their projects and operations.
As Australia's leading provider of high-speed picking solutions, A&RT is renowned for its consultation, design, engineering, and servicing expertise, offered by a team with more than 200 years of combined experience.
A&RT systems showcase noteworthy attributes, including integrated Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), PC-based vision systems, depth balancing sensors, 3D cameras, and remote condition monitoring capabilities.
“Constructing a cell with one robot is easy, but we’re shaping systems that are complex and feature multiple robots while ensuring maximum throughput – that’s no mean feat,” Urban added.
“We won’t turn down a customer request – be it a challenging system or something that’s never been done before. But at the forefront, we operate with utmost honesty, so if we’re presented with something that may not be viable, we’ll be upfront and say so.”
They are currently working on designing Australia’s largest ever flex picker system, using ABB’s IRB 360 FlexPicker Delta robots to pick and place frozen products for a retail and food service company who are looking to expand its offering to support the consumer demand for healthier food options.
The system will feature an intelligently guided vision system developed by A&RT, that evaluates products with embedded camera technology, to accurately package the prepared food and remove those that lack the premium quality to make it to retailers’ shelves.
“We’re really excited about this system. It divides the flow of product into two streams and is capable of packaging 1400 pieces per minute,” explained Urban.
“In mid production, manipulators are sequenced to a self-cleaning wash station to ensure proper product handling, an maintain a higher level of food-grade safety.
“We want to continue to support Australia’s needs for sophisticated, bespoke, high-speed robotic automation picking solutions to meet all the industry’s packaging needs.
“The accelerated expansion of software packaging options, with the inclusion of AI, is making us excited for the future as we’re able to implement the latest and greatest add-ons to customers’ lines, giving them a richer understanding of their operations so they can make better business decisions.”
Urban continued by addressing observations of the changing nature of the industry, which he believes will affect industrial automation.
“With a heightened awareness of our environmental impact, packaging will continue to become lighter, plastic-free, and increasingly recyclable. But these packaging alternatives aren’t as easy for robotic systems to handle as traditional ones,” said Urban.
“To overcome these challenges, system designers and integrators will need to work increasingly closely with food producers and packaging technologists to find viable solutions that are cost-effective and scalable.”
Peter Bradbury, Channel Manager for ABB Robotics in Australia, commented, “I applaud A&RT on their achievements and contributions to robotic automation in Australia. They'll continue to be one to watch – with their new system designs for innovative and environmentally-friendly packaging to accommodate various flavours and shapes, and transformative supply lines that will accommodate the rapid change in market demands.”
