Autonomous Pan Washing for Industrial Bakeries

Manual pan handling and inefficient drying cycles bottleneck industrial bakeries. A fully washing ecosystem utilizes SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) guided automated vehicles and six axis robotics to eliminate human intervention. Integrated centrifugal drying mechanically breaks water surface tension, which could drastically optimize energy use and food safety in sanitation.

ByMaite Carricaburu May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Colussi Ermes. (n.d.). *Pan washers*. Retrieved from: https://www.colussiermes.com/prodotto/pan-washers/

During Interpack 2026, Colussi Ermes showcased a highly integrated washing ecosystem designed to completely eradicate manual intervention. This system shifts away from fixed infrastructure; it relies instead on flexible kinematics to move heavy stacks of molds through the sanitation cycle. The architecture addresses the labor shortages and operational inefficiencies common in large scale industrial baking plants.

This setup combines several advanced automation protocols to handle the heavy lifting and precise positioning required for industrial sanitation:

Trackless Navigation: The ecosystem utilizes Proxaut SLIM series Automated Guided Vehicles. These units operate entirely without traditional magnetic tracks or physical floor guides, which removes the need for invasive floor modifications.
SLAM Technology: Navigation is handled via Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. The vehicles use onboard sensors to scan the plant floor in real time to build a dynamic map. This means they could easily adapt to layout changes, moving safely around temporary obstacles without reprogramming physical pathways.
Articulated Robotics: The automated vehicles autonomously feed stacks of dirty pans to highly articulated six axis robotic arms. These arms provide the exact spatial orientation needed to load the washing modules continuously; they handle various mold sizes with precision.
Centrifugal Desiccation: Post wash drying is managed by the Smart Spin Dryer. Instead of relying purely on massive heat evaporation, this centrifuge mechanically breaks the surface tension of water on the molds. The rotational forces literally shear the water droplets away from the metal or polymer surfaces.

This approach to moisture removal should present a massive leap in energy efficiency. By spinning off the water rather than boiling it away, plants might see a drastic reduction in their thermal energy expenditure. Traditional heated blowers require significant electrical or gas inputs, whereas kinetic drying relies on efficient electric motors.

😊 Thanks for reading!

Source: