Industrial blower for pick-and-place robotic systems
Hygienic handling and sorting of food products
Some cookies are simply too good to refuse. That was also the case with the request from Royal Houdijk, a specialist in processing and packaging systems for bakery products. One of their flagship systems is the Cookiebot: an advanced pick-and-place robot system for dynamic cookie and cracker production lines. With these innovative machines, the Vlaardingen-based manufacturer has grown into a market leader in the automation of baking oven lines and the turnkey realization of complex production line, from oven to packaging.
Behind the technology, pressure and vacuum play a vital role in the hygienic handling and sorting of food products. In many food-processing environments, airflow is a critical part of the production process, including in systems such as the Cookiebot.
Batenburg Applied Technologies contributed to optimizing the use of airflow, vacuum and air pressure through individually controlled blowers for each robot arm. Both the component selection and the connection concept were developed with the aim of minimizing failures and shifting maintenance from corrective to preventive. In addition, Batenburg supplies the complete blower solution.
Market knowledge
Hygiene is critical in the food processing industry. Components that come into direct or indirect contact with food must meet stringent requirements. Our experience in similar applications, as well as in the medical sector, provided valuable expertise that enabled us to advise Royal Houdijk on the optimal selection and implementation of blowers.
Because the machines operate almost continuously, the focus quickly shifted to blower technologies with characteristics comparable to those used in medical applications. This approach ensures a highly reliable solution that meets the stringent standards of the food processing industry.
Industrial powerhouse
Following a thorough evaluation, we selected a robust, IP67-rated 24 VDC blower designed for pressure and vacuum applications in demanding industrial environments. The blower features a standardized screw connection and an integrated brushless motor driver. This driver ensures stable operation at a constant speed, while the tachometer output provides a reliable feedback signal for system monitoring and control.
For the cable connection, we supply pre-assembled cables in the required length and pin configuration, making the assembly of the blowers at Royal Houdijk simple and straightforward.
Locally generated vacuum
Previously, multiple robots were supplied with vacuum from a central system. This has now been replaced by dedicated blowers on each robot, generating the vacuum required for hygienically picking up and sorting food products. The switch to locally controlled blowers delivers several key benefits. In the event of a blower failure, the impact is limited to a single robot, while the remaining systems continue operating until maintenance is performed. In addition, individual blower control provides optimal suction performance and minimizes pressure losses.
Jonathan Muszynski
Sales Manager Thermal Management
Raising the bar in automation together
Projects like this demonstrate that Batenburg Applied Technologies is more than a component supplier to OEMs. Drawing on expertise from multiple disciplines, we proactively collaborate with machine builders from the earliest stages of the design process. By combining component- and system-level knowledge with hands-on industry experience, we develop reliable solutions together with our customers. These solutions enhance mechatronic performance from design and engineering through to commissioning.