WAREHOUSING,STORAGE & LOGISTICS OPTIMAL INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
End-of-line palletising and cobot
With modern manufacturers coming under growing pressure to cut costs and retain skilled staff in a challenging job market, businesses are searching for
E
nd-of-line palletising, powered by innovative collaborative robots, presents a new way for manufacturers to streamline their
operations and increase productivity while enhancing workplace safety.
INTRODUCING COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS Collaborative robots (also known as ‘cobots’) can and ease. These advanced robots combine strength and precision, making them ideally suited for industries that require the unique blend of heavy lifting and delicate handling.
With their extended reach and high payload
capacity, specialised cobots can effortlessly lift and stack heavy boxes, while their precise movements ensure that each pallet is built with consistent quality, reducing the chance of errors and minimising and potential damage to products. In addition to their physical capabilities, with
the right integration partner, cobots can connect seamlessly with modern palletising software. This allows manufacturers to easily manage
multiple SKUs, even when dealing with a variety of box sizes and weights. By eliminating the complexity associated with traditional systems, and control, ensuring that they can quickly adapt to changing demands with minimal effort and downtime. Of course, a key requirement for any robotic system operating in a shared workspace is safety. This is why modern palletising systems are equipped with state-of-the-art scanners that continuously monitor the workspace, creating a virtual safety zone around the robot. If a worker or object breaches this zone, the system reacts instantly, either slowing down or stopping the robot’s operation entirely depending accidents and enables robots and humans to work in a shared, collaborative space with minimal risk. In addition to safeguarding workers, these safety
features enable companies to comply with strict workplace regulations, reducing potential liabilities. The safety scanners also eliminate the need for layouts.
THE BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC PALLETISERS Automated palletising drastically reduces the time and labour required to complete repetitive tasks. spend less time on manual labour and instead focus on more complex, value-adding activities that
Every human worker has their own approach to palletising, which means that the quality and layout of a pallet can vary. In contrast, a cobot offers repeatability and precision with every cycle. This consistency ensures that each pallet is stacked uniformly, reducing the risk of product damage during transportation.
When deployed with the right systems integrator, a cobot can handle a wide range of SKUs, allowing allows manufacturers to quickly adapt to changing
Reduced labour costs and ergonomic strain Manual palletising can be physically demanding, leading to potential injury and fatigue among workers. By automating this task, businesses not only reduce the risk of worker injury but also save
36 December/January 2025 Irish Manufacturing
on labour costs associated with manual handling. The cobot handles the heavy lifting, while human workers stay focused on more critical tasks.
The importance of integration While robotic palletisers can bring several advantages to production lines, the key to realising their full potential lies in the seamless integration with existing systems. Robots, no matter how advanced, cannot operate in a vacuum and must communicate effectively with software and trusted system integrator becomes essential. Optimal Industrial Automation, for example, specialises in providing the tools and expertise needed to integrate robotic systems into existing setups. Whether it’s ensuring smooth data exchange between the robot and a business’ time performance monitoring, Optimal’s role as an integrator is to bridge the gap between innovative technology and practical application.
A smarter, safer choice Robotic palletisers represent a smarter, more right system integration, businesses can realise the full extent of their capabilities. By partnering with experts like Optimal Industrial Automation, manufacturers can streamline their operations, increase productivity, and create a safer, more cost- effective work environment.
www.irish-manufacturing.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
