Solve bread scoring challenges with advanced KATANA Robotic scoring system

Now more than ever, food manufacturers are facing multiple challenges. They must adapt to market demands for varied products of consistent quality while maintaining a high level of industrial performance and facing labor shortage challenges. With more than 35 years of experience in the bakery industry, ABI's experts understand the quality challenges of bakery manufacturers and hold the answers to these challenges.

The KATANA Scoring System is a complete flexible robotic scoring solution that combines unique End of Arm Tools with a precise 3D vision system as well as optimized robotic programming for the robot’s movement, and an intuitive Human Machine Interface (HMI). All these combined create the most comprehensive scoring system available in the marketplace. Thus, the KATANA Scoring System offers industrial bakers various scoring possibilities for a wide range of products with unrivaled precision and product consistency.

“With the KATANA scoring robot, scoring is becoming more than just the practical process of avoiding unsightly bursts that could occur during baking. Bakery manufacturers can make their creativity go further and use various product patterns to personalize products and bring unique offerings to the market,“ explains Felix PANG, Robotics Customer Solution Specialist at ABI.

The KATANA scoring solution offers several benefits: accurate scoring to improve productivity, the opportunity to score a wide range of products, and a user-friendly interface for easy use that doesn’t require any special prerequisites.

More product possibilities with the new waterjet scoring tool

In order to help bakeries meet market expectations for product diversity, the KATANA scoring system now integrates the waterjet scoring tool in addition to the ultrasonic plunge and drag blade options. Each tool meets a specific product requirement: the waterjet is dedicated to end-products, like baguettes or Viennese bread, while the ultrasonic drag blade adapts to stiffer doughs or doughs with inclusions, and the plunge blade is excellent for end-products, such as pretzels or breads. More flexible than ever, the KATANA scoring solution enables the scoring of a wide range of soft products and crusty breads, guaranteeing product quality and homogeneity.

Thanks to the addition of the waterjet scoring tool to the complete KATANA scoring system, bakers can provide more personalized solutions to differentiate their offers and meet the market demand for unique products. To create the perfect customized product, scoring parameters such as cut depth, cut angle, compound angle, and plow angle can be adjusted in the software. Coupled with the articulated arm of the robot movement, the high-pressure water stream of the new waterjet scoring tool enables complex angles and scoring patterns.

To guarantee the best product quality, both the ultrasonic technology of the drag and plunge blades and the waterjet tool have minimal contact with the dough. This doesn’t introduce any additional stress to the dough, preserving as much of the product integrity as possible.

ABI will be presenting the new EYE-Q Quality Control System powered by AI dedicated to the baking industry, at IBA

ABI, a leading supplier of bakery solutions including bagel production equipment, robotics and automation solutions, is pleased to unveil the new EYE-Q Quality Control System powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), dedicated to precise analysis of product quality criteria across different stages of production.

EYE-Q Quality Control System uses deep learning and artificial intelligence to offer insights into production issues and bottle necks by classifying, tracking, and trending defect statistics to support operators as they resolve issues rather than simply accepting or rejecting products.

Combining its powerful and accurate analysis engine with a customized easy-to-use dashboard, EYE-Q provides enhanced flexibility to handle the day-to-day variability of bakery production, enabling on-floor personnel to operate real-time monitoring and insights.

The system also offers operator guidance for swift troubleshooting, minimizing production losses, waste, and downtime.

Discover KATANA's latest addition: a Waterjet scoring tool for an even greater flexibility

Next-generation, versatile KATANA robot scoring solution now equipped with a waterjet scoring tool.

In an effort to help customers meet market expectations for product diversity, KATANA robot scoring will deliver more flexibility than ever with its new powerful waterjet scoring system.

Expanding on features including its ultrasonic plunge and drag blade options, the enhanced KATANA robot scoring solution enables the scoring of a wide range of soft products and crusty breads, guaranteeing product quality and homogeneity.

In addition, the KATANA robot scoring solution is particularly precise and reliable with integrated software developed by ABI, based on its deep industrial bakery sector knowledge.

IBA 2023: ABI to unveil innovations to address today’s bakery-pastry-pâtisserie sector challenges

ABI, a leading supplier of bakery solutions including bagel production equipment, robotics and automation solutions, is pleased to announce it will exhibit at IBA from October 22 to 26, 2023, in Munich, Germany (Hall B2, Booth 150).

Now more than ever, food manufacturers are facing multiple challenges. They must adapt to market demands for varied products of consistent quality while maintaining a high level of industrial performance amid a backdrop of energy challenges, labor shortages, lack of visibility on inflation and an increasing focus on environmental and social responsibility. To help their customers face these challenges, ABI will present its latest innovative solutions at IBA.

•  its KATANA multi-purpose robot scoring solution now offering a waterjet scoring tool.

• Eye-Q, its new AI-enabled complete quality control system, providing precise analysis of product quality criteria across different stages of production.

• ABI will exhibit at IBA alongside sister company MECATHERM, both subsidiaries of the TMG holding company.

Save the Date - Joins us at IBA in Munich, Germany

We are excited to welcome you to join us at the world’s leading baking industry trade show in Munich, Germany, October 22-26, 2023.

Come and learn how ABI can help you go beyond the line and  explore new possibilities.

Uncover valuable insights to help your business grow, including how to:

• Reach unparalleled product quality

• Accelerate your industrial performance

• Achieve your sustainability goals

Let our team of experts show you how our innovative equipment and technologies will help enable your success.

Alyson SLAPKAUSKAS joins ABI as new CEO

We are pleased to announce that Alyson SLAPKAUSKAS has joined ABI as new CEO on March 6, 2023. She will be reporting directly to Olivier SERGENT, TMG* President.

In her new role, Alyson SLAPKAUSKAS will be responsible for expanding and pursuing ABI’s growth strategy, especially in North America. With a main focus on robotics, Alyson will support the company’s mission with a strong customer-centric approach. She will play a pivotal role in further expanding ABI as a trusted partner that helps bakeries gaining a competitive edge and making baked goods more efficiently.

With over 20 years of operational leadership experience, Alyson is adept to managing complex products, diverse supply chain solutions, operations planning optimization and execution while developing high performance teams. Before joining ABI, Alyson was Corporate Senior Director, Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement at Celestica. Alyson held roles across General Management, Direction of Operations, Pickering, and Production control. Thanks to these experiences, she will provide ABI with insight into their supply chain and Customer Experience

“With her vision and strong leadership experience, I am confident that Alyson will build upon the exceptional foundation that ABI has established to become the robotic, automation, & vision systems company of reference for industrial bakery.” said Olivier SERGENT, President of TMG.

*TMG, owner of MECATHERM, has acquired a majority stake in ABI in January 2021.

ABI Won Most Innovative Solution Award!

On December 13th, ABB Robotics hosted the 2022 value provider award ceremony where they rewarded partners from the Americas. 4 categories were presented: Sustainability, Outstanding Performance, Lifetime Achievement and Most Innovative Solution.

We are immensely proud and honored to announce ABI won Most Innovative Solution with Katana Scoring System.

Our robotic scoring solution combining video and an ultrasonic drag guarantees an extreme precision when cutting dough. Capable of scoring any type of bread, ABI word-class scoring solution Katana enables more flexibility and guarantees top-quality products on an industrial scale production.

Thanks to our trusted partner ABB robotics for this recognition and for hosting this event.