APRIL Robotics Powder Weighing System
Powder Weighing Robots
High-speed, ACCURATE, powder weighing robots. Store over 100 raw materials and accurately dose 500,000 additions per year.
“I would say that the relationship with OAL has been good to excellent. We’ve had a lot to learn about automation and robotics, and OAL has been supportive every step of the way.””
Manual Weighing Slows You Down – And Costs You More Than You Think
Inconsistent results, operator fatigue, giveaway, and contamination risks are all common issues in food production powder handling.
Manual powder weighing is labor-intensive and prone to variability – making it difficult to maintain consistency, manage compliance, and control costs. As demand grows and staff availability tightens, it’s time to automate this critical process.
Cost of labour. Significant variation in labour cost due to geography and operating industry. Variation in operating hours, each operator removed from a shift in a 24/7 operation is the equivalent of removing 5 people when holiday and sickness cover is taken into account.
Cost of error. Significant variation of the impact of human error based on component and product value and whether the product can be reworked
Product quality, accuracy and traceability. The impact of the wrong blends and ingredients, as well as the compromising of allergens, can have a significant impact on a business’s reputation.
Hazard risk to operators. The risks that operational staff are currently exposed to will vary based on the ingredient which in extreme cases may be toxic. The value to the customer could be significantly higher.
Protection of IP. Manual weigh-up processes require the operators to know the constituents of any formulation to the “secret sauce”.
Accurate powder weighing/scaling
Weighing out or scaling powders is a manual, repetitive task that is highly susceptible to human error. The APRIL™ Robotics Weighing System automates this, offering unrivalled accuracy, efficiency and allergen control. The robot weighs out ingredients to an accuracy of +/- 1g every time. The flexible nature of the systems means the APRIL system can handle both free-flowing and non free-flowing ingredients.
Increased margins
As labour costs continue to rise across the globe, food manufacturers can be particularly affected due to the number of operators usually involved in micro-weighing. By implementing robotic autonomous ingredient handling, it’s possible to remove human intervention from micro-scaling activities, therefore allowing the food industry to reduce associated labour costs and boost margins.
Total traceability
Dedicated ingredient containers and contact components within the APRIL Robotics Weighing System prevent cross-contamination across multiple product lines, ensuring that your product labels accurately reflect the contents of the packaging for increased product safety. With total traceability for your product and a full audit trail, the system can help to prevent product recalls.
Improved health & safety
Working with powders every day in facilities can pose a significant risk to operator health. Manufacturers must mitigate this risk and the best way to achieve this is to remove the operator from the activity. APRIL™ Robotics allows you to do this, protecting your operators while achieving a positive impact on your turnover and optimising your processes.
How the APRIL™ Robotics Weighing System works
Combining exceptional storage density with an unparalleled turndown ratio, the APRIL Robotics Weighing System offers a scalable, modular design with high-accuracy material weighing. Learn more about the system in our explainer video below:
Ensure every powder is dosed right first time.
Use proven weighing algorithms to quickly dose and handle “difficult” non-free flowing raw materials up to an accuracy of +/- 1 gram.
Improve health & safety AND increase margins.
Automating the weighing process can reduce the risk of operator error, injury, and fatigue. Plus improves productivity, yield, and consistency.
Move towards an agile smart factory.
Confidently move towards just-in-time manufacturing and respond to changing market demands faster.
Step by step automated powder weighing
“In terms of safety, quality and weighing accuracy, the APRIL cell fully delivers against our expectations. I would say that the relationship with OAL has been good to excellent. We’ve had a lot to learn about automation and robotics, and OAL has been supportive every step of the way.”
APRIL Powder Weighing Brochure
Learn how automation can transform your complex powder weighing operations. Our APRIL Powder Weighing Brochure explains:
The history and development of the patented powderweighing process
Reasons why the cost of manual powder is increasing
How the APRIL Weighing Cell works and technical specification
The benefits of switching to robotic powder weighing
How to adopt APRIL powder weighing in your manufacturing processes
FAQs - Common Questions
Everything you need to know about robotic powder weighing.
What is the system footprint?
Length 6.5m (20ft)
Width 6.5m (20ft)
Height 3.2m (10.5ft)
Can this system integrate into our existing process?
Yes – it’s designed for easy retrofit with minimal disruption.
What types of powders can it handle?
A wide range – from free-flowing to more challenging cohesive powders.
How is the system cleaned between batches?
All product contact parts are hygienically designed for fast, effective cleaning.
