
Upgrading your packaging line can improve your operation in various ways, like reducing insurance and labor costs, and enhancing production. Further, it can help you solve an application problem that you have struggled with for a long time.
Remember, any decision you make will have a long term impact on your productivity. Knowing your options and the factors to consider during the selection process can help you make an informed decision.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an Industrial Robot Palletizing Machine
Entrepreneurs have various options to choose from, which include conventional, robotic, hybrid, semi-automatic, and automatic. You can also choose between low or high-level industrial robots. The ideal machine for your production line depends on various factors. In the recent past, there were extensive differences in capabilities and cost between industrial robots and conventional palletizers.
Conventional palletizers were ideal for high speed and dedicated lines. Industrial robots, on the other hand, were perfect for multiple stock-keeping unit applications that operate at low speeds. Today, industrial robot palletizers can acquire high speeds, while advanced technology has enhanced flexibility and reduced downtime in conventional units.
There is a new brand of hybrid palletizers that combine conventional squaring gadgets with robotic product placement. Semi-automatic palletizers provide a cost-effective manual palletizing upgrade for low-speed production lines. Which among these options is ideal for your application? To establish this, you need to assess your requirements, as we shall see below.
The Product Type
Here are questions you should seek answers for when it comes to the product type.
- How is the product packaged? Does it come in a tray, case, tote, display tray, or is it a bulk shrink-wrapped packaging?
- Is it highly valuable or fragile?
- How many stock-keeping units (SKU) do you palletize?
- Is there headspace that can alter stacking strength, or is the product solidly packed?
- Is it lightweight or heavy?
- Assuming bags are involved, are they polythene or paper? Will there be a need for palletizing or flattening the bags?
Line Layout
Here are factors to consider when it comes to the production line layout.
- How are products transferred to the palletizer?
- Will operators deliver multiple lines to the palletizer?
- How much floor space does your working area have?
Pallet Requirements
Here is what to consider in terms of pallet requirements.
- What are your present pallet patterns, and how regularly will they change?
- Do you create an end of aisle display pallets or label loads out?
- Do you need tier sheets, full pallet shrink-wrap, or glue dots?
- Do you make a mixed load or dedicated pallets or both?
Speed Requirement
The efficiency of your production line will be linked to the speed and production of your palletizer. Incompatible speed capability or downtime can fail the entire production line. Ensure your supplier understands your needs when it comes to speed. High-level conventional palletizers are usually ranked at cases/minute while their low-level counterparts are ranked at layers per minute. Industrial robot palletizers are rated at cycles per hour.
Budget
Your budget helps you …