KUKA announces hygienic robots

KUKA has announced a Hygienic Oil (HO) range and Hygienic Machine (HM) variants that are designed for use in applications that prioritise hygiene. The robot arms use food-compatible lubricants in all axes and feature a smooth surface for easy cleaning. This design ensures a high hygienic standard and makes these robots attractive for use in other industries such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

“The HO industrial robots meet the hygiene requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and DIN ISO 14159,” said KUKA Portfolio Manager Dieter Rothenfußer. “They are equipped with certified NSF H1 lubricants in all axes, including the energy supply systems. Maintenance intervals are identical to those of our standard robots.”

The modern lighter grey design of this robotics range is also intended to make it particularly easy to detect contamination on the machine. With these measures, KUKA meets the increased safety standards in the secondary sector. HO robots also offer application potential beyond food industry processing and packaging, for processing of solid or dry products such as chocolate or baked goods.

KUKA hygienic robotic technology with H1 lubricants covers payloads from 6 to 240 kg and reaches from 900 to 3200 mm, and is suitable for use along the entire process chain. This encompasses all robot families: from the KR AGILUS to the KR QUANTEC PA — with even faster cycle times. The main axes carry a protection of rating IP 65 against dust and water, the wrist axes to IP 67.