A food production line carries a built-in contradiction — it must pick and pack hundreds of items per minute to keep up with throughput, yet stay clean enough to be hosed down every day without the equipment failing. The delta robot is the natural fit, and Codian Robotics’ Hygienic Design series is built specifically for food-manufacturing environments.
Why delta robots suit food pick-and-place
A delta robot uses a parallel-kinematic structure where three arms work together, keeping the end effector light so it moves very fast and precisely — ideal for picking light items off a moving conveyor and placing them into packaging at high speed.
- Very fast — hundreds of picks per minute to match line throughput.
- Precise and gentle — places delicate food items without damaging them.
- Top-loading over the conveyor — space-saving, mounts above an existing line.
- Pairs with vision to pick randomly-placed items.
Hygiene on the food line: why “washdown” matters
Food-contact work demands frequent cleaning; many plants hose down with high-pressure water and sanitizers every shift. An ordinary robot with crevices, exposed bolts, or surfaces that trap residue becomes a contamination source and fails fast when wet. A hygienic-design build is therefore essential.
- Smooth surfaces with no crevices to trap residue — easy to clean.
- Withstands washdown with water and sanitizing chemicals.
- Food-appropriate materials and seals that reduce contamination risk.
- Minimized lubricants that could contaminate — cleanroom-friendly.
Codian Hygienic Design Series — built for the food line
Codian Robotics (part of ABB) is a Netherlands maker of customizable pick-and-place delta robots. The Hygienic Design series has smooth, washdown-resistant surfaces purpose-built for food, pharma, and cleanroom work — and you can size the reach to your line across the D2, D4, and D5 families.
| Codian model | Strength | Best for food work |
|---|---|---|
| Hygienic Design Series | Smooth, washdown-resistant for food-contact work | Lines cleaned often / direct food contact |
| D2 Series | Compact, fast picking in tight spaces | Small items — candy, confectionery, small bakery |
| D4 Series | 4-axis (pick + orient), up to ~200 picks/min | Orienting items into trays or boxes |
| D5 Series | Long reach, higher payload, large envelope | Wide conveyors or larger food items |
Example jobs on the food line
- Picking snacks, bakery, or chocolate from a belt into trays/packs.
- Arranging vegetables, fruit, or meat into end-of-line packaging.
- Feeding items into a packaging machine at a steady rate.
- Work in chilled or wet areas that are cleaned frequently.
In addition, Codian robots can be driven by SANMOTION servo motors or stepping motors from Sanyo Denki — giving you flexibility to match the motor-and-driver package to your application and budget.
The PMC Technology team can help select the right Codian family and build for your food line — pick rate, item size, line width, and the level of hygiene you need — paired with the right SANMOTION motor.
