Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH devises 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.