The start of the test run of the “Robotik-Pack-Line” at DIL in Quakenbrück (from the left): Ansgar Pohlmann (WIGOS), Knut Franke (DIL), Dr. Reinhold Kassing (County of Osnabrück), Dr. Volker Heinz (DIL). A good example of the bridge building function between science and industry is the participation of the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) in the "Robotik-Pack-Line". This 25m, fully automatic packaging line for food products compiled from many individual parts has been developed and assembled by a group of more than 30 companies. The Institute of Quakenbrück was the scientific supervisor for this group and in particular for all problems regarding the hygienic design of the robotics features.

During the last test run of the line prior to its presentation at the Anuga FoodTec 2009 in Cologne, Dr. Reinhild Kassing (Erster Kreisrat (deputy county manager) of the County of Osnabrück) and Ansgar Pohlmann (managing director of WIGOS) saw for themselves the high technical level of the line and were informed of the robotics-supported packaging solution.

“Robots are well established in the automotive industry. In the food industry, we are also on the edge of comprehensive introduction of this technology,” explained Kassing demonstrating his interest in this amazing line. At the exhibition, this line will demonstrate how to make fully automatically from scratch two ready-to-eat mini burgers including packaging, sealing, labeling and palletizing to the highest hygienic standards in a highly efficient manner. The burgers are provided by partner company Dieter Hein of Hasbergen.

The brand new, impressive technical installation was put up in the former Brasch building which we recently moved into within the scope of the expansion of the institute. “This clearly shows how urgently we needed the expansion building”, explained Dr. Volker Heinz, Director of DIL. “We are pleased that we can now use this hall because, up to this point, there was just no room for lines of this size in our former building.” Heinz hopes that the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion building will take place in the spring.

The “Robotik-Pack-Line” will be introduced to a broad technical audience during the exhibition from 10-13 March in Cologne. “We support the DIL, this guiding light of the Artland (collective municipality), in this important exhibition”, explains Ansgar Pohlmann, managing director of WIGOS, with regard to commitment.

The project manager of the competency center Robotics at DIL is Dr. Knut Franke. “Robotics offers a huge potential for our domestic food industry while increasing the competitiveness and the cost structure with high hygienic standards", explains Franke relating to the significance for the region and beyond. The use of robots in the manufacture of e.g. cars or computers is well-known. Now it’s the turn of the food industry.

For more details on this new technology please visit www.robotik-pack-line.de or www.anuga-foodtec.de

“In Cologne, we will not only be present in the special event area of the Robotik-Pack-Line but will also demonstrate our performance range at our own stand; a one-day DIL Forum on high pressure technology accompanied by several other lectures at other events”, summarizes Dr. Heinz. “2009 will be the year of awakening for our institute, opening up the way into new dimensions. The first quarter has started very promisingly.”