Yaskawa has expanded its product offering in the field of robotic applications in hygiene-critical environments. The first two models of a new robot series have been presented. These HD robots with a load capacity of 7 kg or 8 kg are developed and produced entirely in Europe. The new high-performance six-axis robot was developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Engineering and Automation IPA and is specially designed for use in the food industry and life sciences.
Hygienic Design
The new HD series (HD stands for “Hygienic Design”) robots can perform a wide range of handling tasks in hygiene-critical environments, such as the food industry, laboratory automation and pharmaceutical sector. The prerequisite for this is a hygienic design. This is where the expertise of the Fraunhofer Institute comes into play.
Resistance to cleaning agents
The new robot features special details that make cleaning easier. These include special axle seals and a rounded design that is free of dead spaces and does not require external screws, gaps or recesses. In addition, surfaces and materials were used that are mechanically and chemically resistant to substances and cleaning agents common in the life sciences and food industries. This prevents color particles from penetrating into the food, as is still common in food production today.
The highest protection rating IP69K and a particularly smooth surface (roughness < 0.8 Ra) minimize the adhesion of dirt particles and microorganisms. While application and media cables (e.g. for compressed air) run inside the robot arm, the routing of cables is carried out through the base of the robot, making cleaning even easier. Further benefits include low particle emissions (ISO class 5 for HD7, ISO class 4 for HD8) and the use of food grade grease (FGG).
Short delivery times
The new series starts with the HD7 and HD8 models with load capacities of 7 kg and 8 kg. They are produced at the Yaskawa plant in KoÄevje, Slovenia, where they were developed in close cooperation with the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Production Engineering and Automation IPA and in interaction with customers in a hygienic environment. This gives the HD robots a competitive price and the added benefit of very short delivery times, as they are produced in Europe.
Award-winning
The HD series is based on the powerful 6-axis robots of the well-known GP series. The HD7 robot recently won the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2024, one of the world’s largest design competitions. The Red Dot label is considered internationally as one of the most popular quality seals for outstanding design.
Benelux Scoop
The first HD robot in the Benelux was delivered to specialist machine manufacturer Van Wees Waalwijk. Van Wees developed the Binpick food cell, in which two HD7 robots use a vision system to pick up and place raw food. The first project in which the machine was applied was for a salad production company, where the HD robot places pieces of raw pepper and packets of salad dressing into salad bowls. A special feature of this machine is its vision system, which allows you to determine the location of objects very precisely and place them in the right place. Another noteworthy element is the high hygiene standards of the machine, so handling raw food is no problem at all.
Flexible design
This machine is designed to be mobile and can be rolled directly to the right place on the production line. All the necessary components are included in the design. Simply connect it to electricity and compressed air, select the appropriate program and you can start working immediately. The machine is equipped with a rotating table and has space for four boxes of salad ingredients. The design allows the line to continue running during box changes and also works in tight spaces. The machine was created through an intensive collaboration between Yaskawa, Alpha Robotica, Fizyr and Van Wees Waalwijk and is due to be on sale from February 2025.