In context
In early 2023, the food and beverage industry faced persistent labor shortages and rising demand for automation. Collaborative robots were increasingly seen as a flexible solution, but food-grade hygiene certifications remained a barrier for many manufacturers. Doosan Robotics' launch of its E-Series addressed this gap, marking a significant step in bringing cobots into food processing and service environments.
What was reported
Doosan Robotics introduced the E-Series, a new line of collaborative robots specifically designed for the food and beverage industry. The E-Series received NSF certification for food hygiene safety, featuring sealed gaps between connecting axes to prevent contamination. The cobots are lightweight and slim, making them easy to install in existing workspaces, with a 5kg payload and nearly 3ft reach.
The E-Series has been tested in various applications, including a Korean fried chicken concept called Robert Chicken, which operates exclusively with cobots, and in beverage making via Doosan's Dr Presso system. The company plans to customize the E-Series for other food and beverage uses, such as baking, barbeque, and specialized QSR functions.
With the E-Series launch, Doosan Robotics revealed a total of 13 new cobots, expanding its lineup to include M, A, and H-Series models tailored for different industrial needs. The E-Series is scheduled to start shipping in June, with exclusive discounts on initial purchases.
Why it mattered
The E-Series represented a milestone in food-safe automation, demonstrating that cobots could meet stringent hygiene standards while remaining affordable and easy to deploy. This opened new opportunities for small and medium food businesses to adopt robotics, potentially accelerating automation in a sector that had lagged behind other manufacturing industries.
“Our E-Series cobots were specifically created to help transform the food and beverage industry, providing immediate solutions to labor shortages and improving work efficiencies.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-04-19 · “Doosan Robotics launches new range of collaborative robots”