Simulation and Mechanical Automation of the Minced Meat Packaging Process
Bohdan, Oleksii (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604095973
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604095973
Tiivistelmä
This bachelor’s thesis presents the design and evaluation of a semi-automated minced meat packaging line developed for Lallin Lammas Oy. The aim of the study was to create a system-level concept that combines tray feeding, robotic handling, filling, packaging, labelling, and safety integration into one coordinated production cell, and to assess whether the proposed design can achieve the required production target of 40 kg/h.
The work was carried out using Visual Components as the main engineering tool. The production line was modelled as a digital simulation in which empty trays are transferred by a robot to the main conveyor, filled with minced meat at a semi-automated filling station, sealed using a simplified ULMA TSB 300 tray sealer model, and labelled using a parametric labelling unit from the Visual Components library. The filling stage includes manual supervision of portion accuracy, while transport, packaging, and downstream handling are automated. The final concept also includes protective fencing, a defined robot operating zone, and emergency stop devices to represent the basic safety requirements of an industrial production cell.
A mathematical capacity analysis was performed using the selected cycle times and a target portion weight of 500 g per tray. The results show that the proposed line must process at least 80 trays per hour to achieve the required production target. Based on the selected process times, the packaging stage is the limiting stage, but the theoretical line capacity was calculated as 360 kg/h, which is substantially higher than the required 40 kg/h.
The study concludes that the proposed packaging line is technically feasible as a concept and suitable for simulation-based engineering evaluation. Although the model is simplified and does not include detailed electrical design, full PLC implementation, or validated safety control, it provides a realistic basis for analysing production flow, machine interaction, and future development of the system.
The work was carried out using Visual Components as the main engineering tool. The production line was modelled as a digital simulation in which empty trays are transferred by a robot to the main conveyor, filled with minced meat at a semi-automated filling station, sealed using a simplified ULMA TSB 300 tray sealer model, and labelled using a parametric labelling unit from the Visual Components library. The filling stage includes manual supervision of portion accuracy, while transport, packaging, and downstream handling are automated. The final concept also includes protective fencing, a defined robot operating zone, and emergency stop devices to represent the basic safety requirements of an industrial production cell.
A mathematical capacity analysis was performed using the selected cycle times and a target portion weight of 500 g per tray. The results show that the proposed line must process at least 80 trays per hour to achieve the required production target. Based on the selected process times, the packaging stage is the limiting stage, but the theoretical line capacity was calculated as 360 kg/h, which is substantially higher than the required 40 kg/h.
The study concludes that the proposed packaging line is technically feasible as a concept and suitable for simulation-based engineering evaluation. Although the model is simplified and does not include detailed electrical design, full PLC implementation, or validated safety control, it provides a realistic basis for analysing production flow, machine interaction, and future development of the system.