Italian automation company Comau has introduced its Racer-5 Sensitive Environments (Racer-5 SE) industrial robot designed for use in the pharmaceutical, health and beauty, food and beverage and electronics industries.
Covered in a water, heat and grease-resistant coating, the six-axis robot has been developed for IP67 certification, high-grade ISO 5 cleanroom classification, protection from chemical agents and to reduce contamination risks. It also features NSF H1 food grade lubrication.
According to Comau, further benefits include reduced operator risk when working with potentially harmful chemicals and substances, as well as increased productivity and quality of work.
Racer-5 SE has been designed to offer speed, accuracy and repeatability within cleanrooms and other sensitive environments and is fitted with stainless steel screws and covers to assist ease of cleaning.
Comau describes it as having compact dimensions, with a 5kg payload and a high-gloss, element-resistant shell.
It has been tested and certified for cleanroom compliance by Fraunhofer and is available in two different 5kg payload configurations, with a reach of 630mm (24.8in) and 809mm (31.8in).
The automation firm also claims it is one of the fastest robots of its kind and that, due to the electrical and air connectors located outside the production zone, it can be agile with a reduced risk of damage.
Such features are equipped to improve production quality, performance and cycle times, while also cutting organisational costs.
“Our new Racer-5 SE combines efficiency and technical excellence with the features and functionality required for effective application within sensitive settings,” said Nicole Clement, chief marketing officer at Comau.
“We expect the adoption of robotics in sensitive environments to grow significantly in the coming years, largely driven by increasing automation in fast-growing industries such as food and beverages, pharma, plastic and chemicals and electronics.”
Racer-5 SE was built for tabletop, inclined, or mounted on a wall or ceiling use, which supports the automation of applications with highly specific needs, such as the handling of pharmaceuticals in sterile filling rooms.
The industrial robot, according to Comau, is also suited to the food and beverage industry, with a painted surface that has been verified for direct contact with all food types.
Its IP67 rating also helps protect it from peroxide, chlorine, alcohol, among other cleaning agents.
