Fully automatic sales solution for retailers

Robot as a sausage seller

Automation can also unlock new potential in the retail sector, as is shown by the fully automatic sales solution devised for village butcher Klein in Nersingen-Strass. In the unit developed by special-purpose machine builder Kirschenhofer, a Yaskawa Motoman robot assumes complex handling tasks.

In a rural areas people traditionally help one another, and that was the case in Swabian village of Strass (Nersingen, District of Neu-Ulm). It was the beginning of what is today an extremely successful automation concept for the retail sector – “originally conceived as a fun project,” Craill remembers.

The robotics expert is manager of Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH in Strass, a company with over 25 years of experience in special-purpose machine building with a qualified workforce exceeding 40 employees. It develops and supplies – among other things – robot-based systems and automation concepts for the automotive industry. It came as quite a surprise when Josef Klein, a traditional butcher whose shop is located only a few hundred metres away, became his customer.

Master butcher Klein not only prides himself in the high quality and craftmanship of his products; he is constantly in search of new and sometimes unconventional ways to the customer. Regional foods are in keeping with current trends, and the demand is considerable. However, the prescribed store opening hours are no longer in keeping with the lifestyle of many customers, who want to shop after normal working hours or at the weekend.

Against this background, Josef Klein began searching for a suitable vending machine. However, it soon became clear to him that several machines would be required for his comprehensive range of about 95 articles, and these would take up a considerable amount of space. Furthermore, high throughput meant that they would have to be refilled on a daily basis, and the contents rigorously inspected. Last but not least, classic automatic vending machines do not normally satisfy the stringent requirements of the food professionals with respect to hygiene and the cooling chain.

Fully automatic sales solution

This where Klein’s friend Craig Craill came into the picture. He and his colleagues from Kirschenhofer took on the challenge – and developed a fully automatic and, to boot, space-saving solution for this special task. Customer- and storage areas are physically separate. The goods are hygienically kept in a cold store. The latter can be simply restocked in the required quantities.

The system works completely autonomously. The customer enters his order on an intuitive touch panel resembling the user interface of an online shop. With RFID support a gripper robot then takes the respective packages from the shelves and lays them on a photoelectric sensor-protected conveyor belt that carries the articles to the collection point. Payments are made contactless and cashless by card or mobile phone.

But the Windows-based software programmed by Kirschenhofer is capable of even more. Behind the scenes, it continually checks the current inventory levels, including use-by dates. The technical operating status of the system including robot is also monitored. Data can be retrieved remotely at any time.

Yaskawa Motoman GP25 robot

A Yaskawa Motoman GP25 robot with 25 kg payload was selected for the job. GP stands for “general purpose”, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. The 6-axis robots of the Motoman GP series are designed to the high protection class IP67 (protected against moisture and dust). They can be deployed in harsh working conditions and are easy to clean. The robots can be installed and operate in any position, and robot cables can either be fed into the side or through the plinth. Integral media routing in the axes optimises the mounting of grippers and ensures the highest level of reliability in subsequent operation.

For Craig Craill the decision to acquire a Motoman robot was clear from the outset: “I have been in the robotics business for 25 years, and during this time I have tried out all manufacturers,” he explains. In his opinion, several reasons speak in favour of Yaskawa robots: “I am particularly impressed by the simple handling,” he says. “Just about anyone can operate a Motoman robot.”

The prerequisite is the compact high-performance controller YRC1000. One can use either the classical hand-held programmer or the innovative smart pendant for operating and programming. In terms of connectivity (I/O, Process and Industry 4.0) and interfaces, as well as conveyor belt, camera- and sensor connection, the controller offers diverse functions, tools and options. Alternatively, the robot can be directly integrated into a higher-level machine control via PLC function blocks.

“Besides that, Motoman robots are incomparably robust, a fact that has been proven over the years,” Kirschenhofer Manager Craill names a further argument. He also appreciates the competent support and advice that is always available from Yaskawa.

Experience and perspectives

Following intensive development work, the robot-based sales system has been in practical use since the end of 2020, and has proven itself a thousand times over. Customer feedback has been consistently positive, “surprisingly, also from the elderly,” Craill reports. Butcher Klein has not only tapped into an additional sales channel, but also new growth possibilities. Further “vending machine branches” are conceivable at other locations.

And finally, Kirschenhofer has created a new source of income as a company: “The new idea will generally be of great interest to the retail sector,” Manager Craill says. “With a range of approx. 150 products, the investment pays for itself in a couple of years.” He is currently negotiating with a big organic supermarket chain.

Author:

Jürgen Riedinger

Senior Sales Manager GI Robots & Products, Yaskawa Europe GmbH, Robotics Division, Allershausen

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