Cobots in Food Production: Applications, Hygiene, and Costs
In food production, cobots pay off above all at the end of the line (palletizing, packaging) and in pick-and-place. Hygiene is decisive: the closer to the open product, the stricter the requirements for materials and cleanability. Here is the overview.
The food industry is one of the most dynamic cobot markets, because skilled labor shortage, hygiene pressure, and physically hard work all come together here. But not every position in production is equally suitable. It comes down to the hygiene zone.
Where cobots pay off first in food production
Cobots pay off fastest where the task is uniform and physically demanding but not in direct contact with the open food:
- Palletizing at the end of the line: stacking finished boxes and packages. The classic first step.
- Packaging and inserting: placing products into trays, boxes, or secondary packaging.
- Pick-and-place: sorting, transferring, feeding.
- Order picking at the end of the line.
The three hygiene zones, and what they mean for the cobot
The most important question is: how close does the cobot get to the open food? This determines the required configuration.
| Zone | Example | Requirement for the cobot |
|---|---|---|
| Food contact | gripping open product | food-grade materials, EHEDG-compliant, highest hygiene level |
| Splash zone (wet) | close to the line, regular wet cleaning | protection rating up to IP69K, washdown-capable (high-pressure cleaning) |
| Secondary/packaging | palletizing, secondary packaging | a standard cobot is usually sufficient |
Terms that matter in the food context
IP69K is the highest protection rating against high-pressure and steam-jet cleaning, often mandatory in wet areas. EHEDG stands for hygienic, gap-free machine design in direct product contact. Washdown-capable means the system withstands daily wet cleaning. These three keywords belong in every requirement spec sent to an integrator as soon as things get wet or close to the product.
What it costs and when it pays off
A palletizing or packaging cell in food production falls within the typical DACH range for a cobot cell, roughly €50,000 to €150,000 depending on hygiene requirements, gripper, and cycle time (details: TCO of a robot cell). Washdown-capable and EHEDG-compliant configurations are at the upper end. It becomes economical above all with multi-shift operation and hard-to-staff positions — as everywhere: utilization decides.
The lesson for food producers
Start where the hygiene zone makes it easy: palletizing and packaging at the end of the line. Include the keywords IP69K, EHEDG, and washdown-capable in your requirements as soon as things get wet or close to the product, and choose an integrator with real food-industry experience.
Frequently asked questions
Are robots allowed in food production?
Yes. Robots and cobots are widely used in food production. The decisive factor is the hygiene zone: in direct contact with open food, strict requirements apply to materials (food-grade, corrosion-free) and cleanability. In secondary and packaging areas, the requirements are lower.
What does IP69K mean for cobots?
IP69K is the highest protection rating against high-pressure and steam-jet cleaning. A cobot with IP69K can be hosed down with hot high-pressure water during cleaning (washdown) without being damaged. In wet food areas, this is often mandatory.
What is EHEDG?
EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) is an organization that publishes guidelines for hygienic machine design. EHEDG-compliant components have smooth, gap-free surfaces where germs cannot settle — important in direct food contact.
Which food production tasks pay off first for a cobot?
Palletizing and packaging at the end of the line, as well as repetitive pick-and-place, pay off fastest. These steps are uniform, physically demanding, and usually outside the strictest hygiene zone — making them technically and economically the easiest.
Price and standards information is indicative, for orientation (as of 2026). What counts for the hygiene classification is always your specific application and the applicable food hygiene regulation. The integrator provides the binding design.