FANUC America will exhibit its range of food-grade robotic and automation technologies at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, taking place September 29 to October 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. On display will be FANUC’s DR-3iB/6 Stainless IP69K-rated delta robot and the SR-12iA/C SCARA robot, which are configured to place sausage links into packaging. The system incorporates vacuum grippers and FANUC’s iRPickTool software for precision in washdown environments that comply with USDA and FDA sanitation guidelines.
The company’s exhibit is structured around multiple demonstrations addressing automation in food processing and packaging. These include robots lubricated with NSF-H1 certified food-grade grease, rated for ingress protection (IP67 or IP69K), and designed to accommodate hygienic washdown procedures. Several demonstrations feature integrated vision systems that enable the robots to detect, track and adjust to variable product positions in real time.
Among the technologies on display, FANUC will present the CRX-20iA/L cobots handling chocolate chip cookies. One unit, equipped with a 3DV/400 vision system, loads unbaked cookies onto a conveyor, while another CRX-20iA/L retrieves baked cookies from the conveyor and places them onto trays, using vision and tracking systems. These collaborative robots are IP67-rated and finished with white epoxy coating for visibility and ease of cleaning.
FANUC’s CRX-30iA cobot will demonstrate palletizing of packaged food boxes. The system uses PalletTool 3 software and a Multi-Case Gripper to manage two pallet stacks simultaneously. Like other CRX-series cobots, it is configured for secondary packaging operations in food production environments.
Compact LR Mate robots will be featured in various configurations. One demonstration shows a washdown-capable LR Mate robot with stainless steel wrist flanges picking bags of frozen meatballs and placing them into cases, using iRPickTool and a 3DV/400 camera for tracking. Another system includes two LR Mate robots managed by the new R-50iA controller. One robot bin-picks boxes, while the second performs palletizing, using vision tools and the latest safety and cybersecurity features, including MQTT TLS and LDAPS-based access control.
High-speed food handling capabilities will be highlighted through delta and SCARA robots. In addition to packaging sausage links, FANUC will present an SR-12iA/C robot that places brownies into cutting fixtures, where an ultrasonic knife executes consistent cuts. This setup is tailored for ready-to-eat bakery products.
End-of-line packaging and palletizing systems are also part of FANUC’s exhibit. The M-710/50-26D robot, using PalletTool 3 and Dual Check Safety software, will demonstrate the palletizing and depalletizing of crates containing tortillas. The robot’s curved J2 arm design enables operation within compact cells. Separately, a static display of the M-410/800F-32C will demonstrate heavy-duty palletizing, featuring an 800 kg payload capacity and a modular layer gripper.
Attendees can also explore PalletTool 3 software at an interactive kiosk equipped with a Tablet Teach Pendant and ROBOGUIDE simulation. The station allows users to build unit load configurations and test features such as the Custom Pattern Editor and Multi-Case Gripper support.
