Overcoming the Challenge of Sorting and Packaging Cakes

Comply with the Trend of Automation and Intelligence: Solve the Problem of Cake Sorting and Packaging

Recruitment is becoming more and more difficult, especially for young people, who are increasingly unwilling to repeat tedious work on the assembly line. This is a headache that all manufacturing companies share. It is the general trend to replace it with automated and intelligent mechanical equipment.

Production automation is the general trend

Mr. Qiu is from a cake manufacturer in Malaysia. All along, he has been troubled by the cost and efficiency of production. "There is a market, but there are no workers!" Mr. Qiu said, suffering from the shortage of workers, he dared not expand production even though there was a lot of potential demand.

Mr. Qiu was very far-sighted and started the automation transformation process of cake production early. The production capacity has been greatly improved at once, and the workers who were originally in the front-line production have also turned to the back-line packaging process. After feeling the benefits of production automation, Mr. Qiu began to pursue the automation of the packaging process.

Because it is food, "It is very difficult to ensure cleanliness and sanitation, and to solve the problem of speed matching without damaging my cake." Mr. Qiu tried various methods, none of which met the requirements.

Until the Asian World Food Expo in Thailand in 2019, Mr. Qiu saw the visual inspection equipment and delta robots of UtrustPack Machinery. After an in-depth conversation, Mr. Qiu felt that he saw the future of solving the problem of cake sorting.

"You have precisely pointed out that there will be some technical difficulties to overcome, which gives me confidence"

After several rounds of conversations, Mr. Qiu fully recognized UtrustPack Machinery 's attitude of solving problems, respecting technology, and respecting the market. After seeing the solution given by UtrustPack Machinery, Mr. Qiu decided to directly place an order for the whole line. The original plan to set up a single machine to try the effect is over. 

One of the conceptual drawings of the cake sorting robot of UtrustPack Machinery

The contract was signed and technical difficulties arose.

The design and development of delta robots is a challenge. Baked cakes usually have grease on the surface, and the shape and size are not exactly the same, which makes it very difficult for the delta robots to grab. Factors such as precision, speed, and strength of the delta robots need to be considered to ensure that the delta robots has sufficient strength and agility to accurately and flexibly grab and place the cake without damaging it.

In order to solve these problems, the automation team of UtrustPack Machinery conducted multiple tests and optimizations on the delta robots. More than 10 kinds of plans have been tried for the grasping method. After confirming the use of suction cups, more than 10 kinds of food-grade materials with different thicknesses and hardnesses have been tested. Then it’s a matter of adjusting the gripping strategy and strength of the delta robots so that it can accommodate slightly different cakes while remaining efficiency and stability.

The right suction cup was finally determined after many tests

The focus and patience of UtrustPack Machinery also received the same response from Mr. Qiu. He is well aware of the difficulty of research and development. During the process, he discussed various characteristics of cakes together, followed up the progress of research and development at all times. He provided a large number of samples, cheered for every small progress and jumped for every major breakthrough.

In the second half of 2020, after the careful design and manufacture of UtrustPack Machinery, Mr. Qiu's cake packaging production line was successfully deployed. His cake business has realized full-line automation, and the production efficiency has been greatly improved.

The automatic cake sorting line was successful

Mr. Qiu felt very satisfied and grateful, "Thanks to this production line." Mr. Qiu said, "In the past few years of the COVID-19, we can't find anyone to work everywhere. Fortunately, this line is here and it is stable!"

Customer site video of cake line in Malaysia

In May 2023, Mr. Qiu came to China and traveled around the surrounding area accompanied by General Manager Qiu of UtrustPack Machinery. Interestingly, the general manager of UtrustPack Machinery is also surnamed Qiu.

This time, he is here to inspect the goods. Mr. Qiu, who also pursues endless product quality, has customized a product surface panoramic inspection equipment to ensure consistency in the quality of the cakes produced. This equipment can detect and remove surface stains or foreign objects from various angles on boxed cakes.

"I asked the engineer to increase the detection speed to 45 boxes per minute," Mr. Qiu said proudly.

Of course, that's another story.

This is an alien device

After two successful cooperations, Mr. Qiu was full of praise for the professionalism and professionalism of UtrustPack Machinery: "You not only have rich technical experience and professional ability, but also pay great attention to the needs and experience of customers. I am impressed by your service and support. Very warm and reassuring. Well done!

Yes, Well done!

We are also deeply grateful to customers like Mr. Qiu:

Fully understand, trust and grow together.