Automated POS Baking
with 3D-Printed Gripper
LMD | Case Study
In bakeries and supermarkets, labor shortages and food waste threaten profitability, while consumers demand fresh, high-quality goods around the clock. Traditional automation often struggles with delicate pastries, hygiene standards, and fluctuating demand. But what if a robotic gripper could mimic human dexterity while outperforming manual processes in cost, availability and precision?
Enter the Bakisto system – an AI-driven, fully automated baking ecosystem powered by LMD's food-safe gripper, enabled by EOS additive manufacturing technology. Developed in partnership with FANUC, WIESHEU, and Wanzl, this system redefines in-store baking through functional integration and material innovation. The result: a 24/7 bakery that reduces waste and delivers consistent quality even during peak demand.
Challenge
Automating artisanal baking processes required a solution to three critical issues: delicate handling, hygiene compliance, and rapid tool changes. Traditional food-safe grippers — usually made of stainless steel — are heavy, limiting the cobot’s payload and requiring larger, potentially less safe robotic arms. Moreover, every external hose or cable on a gripper is an interfering contour that restricts motion and makes fast changeovers cumbersome. With these unique demands, conventional manufacturing approaches fell short. LMD needed a gripper that combined lightweight strength, integrated functionality, and food-grade compliance — all in one part.
Conventional manufacturing methods couldn't deliver the combination of precision, food safety, and flexibility required for this specialized application. Even small variations in material properties or surface finish could compromise product quality or regulatory compliance, making this an ideal challenge for advanced additive manufacturing.
Solution
With the reliable EOS P 396, LMD has developed an innovative multi-material gripper: the basic framework and gripper fingers are made of PA 2200, while two TPU 1301 sleeves cover the fully 3D-printed drive in a functional and hygienic manner. By combining LMD's food automation expertise with EOS technology's precise manufacturing capabilities, a pioneering design was created that combines the highest hygiene standards with precise handling.
Thanks to selective laser sintering (SLS), pneumatic channels could be integrated directly into the structure of the gripper. This reduces potential sources of error, simplifies cleaning and makes maintenance much easier. "The EOS P 396 is invaluable to our work, because it enables us to leverage freedom of design, and the wide range of materials offers high flexibility. We can create precise products without being restricted by standard components," explains Max Becker, Project Manager at LMD. Through iterative development and close collaboration, the team optimized the gripper design for real-world performance, drastically reducing assembly time and potential failure points.
Results
The cooperation between LMD, EOS and the partner companies has fundamentally changed automated baking. Instead of having to rely on manual night shifts, a hygienic and efficient cobot solution now enables end-to-end automated operation – precisely tailored to the requirements of modern food retail. The lightweight, yet robust gripper design noticeably reduces system inertia – a decisive advantage when handling heavy baking trays and sensitive products.
Compared to conventional grippers, the 3D-printed LMD gripper's rounded geometry and flexible structure significantly minimize the risk of collisions. In addition, the use of functional integration and lightweight construction allows the construction of more compact systems, which not only saves space but also significantly reduces costs. "EOS technology gives us the freedom to implement our ideas without restrictions and to develop tailor-made, innovative solutions for our customers," summarizes Max Becker from LMD.
Consolidating parts into a single printed assembly reduced material use, simplified the supply chain, and removed potential failure points. Internal pneumatic channels, printed directly into the gripper, eliminated external hoses and cables that could interfere with movement or slow down product changeovers. Unlike human bakers, cobots equipped with this solution can start working hours before stores open, bake through the night, and don’t call in sick during flu season. This always-on reliability, paired with Wanzl’s AI demand forecasting, ensures that fresh goods are ready right when customers want them — without overproduction or wasted labor hours. "With LMD's gripper, our cobots can handle croissants as gently as human hands, but with higher availability and at lower cost. This will transform baking operations for retailers and significantly improve throughput and product quality consistency," states Jens Kaufmann, Business Development & Process Improvement at FANUC Deutschland.
This successful collaboration has become a blueprint for food automation innovation. It demonstrates how advanced additive manufacturing can solve complex challenges in highly regulated environments while delivering measurable business benefits. “Our partnership with LMD is characterized by outstanding flexibility, excellent product quality, and a truly collaborative spirit. Together, we have developed and implemented innovative solutions efficiently – a true example of partnership at eye level,” summarizes Kaufmann.
Short Company Profiles:
LMD is a specialist in automation robotics, focusing on hygienic, high-cycle solutions for health-related and food production environments. Further Information: https://lmd-innovation.de/
FANUC is a global leader in industrial robots, supplying over 100,000 cobots annually and pioneering collaborative automation solutions. Further Information: https://www.fanuc.eu/eu-en
WIESHEU is an innovator in smart baking systems, with 50+ years of oven engineering expertise and a focus on retail baking technology. Further Information: https://www.wiesheu.de/en/
Wanzl is a retail solutions pioneer, serving Europe's top supermarket chains with customized shopfitting and retail software. Further Information: https://www.wanzl.com/en_GB
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