FANUC Robotics America, Inc. recently announced that its M-430iA/2F high-speed, food picking robot is the first and only robot to meet the hygiene requirements for meat and poultry processing, and receive equipment acceptance from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The M-430iA food robot offers a wide range of benefits, including:

- A clean design with no food particle retention areas to resist bacteria growth and rust.
- Hollow arm to avoid air line and electric cable exposure

- Capable of working with primary (unpackaged) and secondary (packaged) food products.
- Manufactured with food-grade grease, and USDA-accepted parts

- Designed with special coating, materials and seals to withstand caustic food industry cleaners and acids used in food plant washdown operations.

- IP67 rating for the entire robot allows it to withstand the rinsing process after the caustic washdown.

- Materials used in product contact areas are in accordance with the applicable FDA requirements as stated in 21 CFR, parts 174-189.