New Packaging Equipment: December 2022
The evolution of palletizing is linked to robotics. In fact, robotic palletizing of flexible bags in snack and bakery plants is a reliable way to handle variations in weight. Modern robotic palletizers also can be equipped with programmable HMI (human-machine interface) and end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) that allow manufacturers to quickly switch between a variety of bag sizes, weights, and materials.
Company: A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp.
Website: www.abcpackaging.com/
Equipment Snapshot: A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., Tarpon Springs, FL, recently introduced a compact palletizer, the Model 72AN, designed to fit in production areas where space is limited. It is fully automatic and offers all the flexibility and efficiencies of A-B-C’s larger models, but occupies up to 30% less floor space than other floor-level palletizers, the company reports.
Company: AFA Systems Ltd.
Website: www.afasystemsinc.com/
Equipment Snapshot: AFA Systems Ltd., Brampton, Ontario, recently developed a combination case packer/palletizer, the TR-CPP - Combination Case Packer Palletizer. The system automatically erects a case and places it on a shuttle. A gantry robot collates, and the load system packs the correct pack pattern in the case. Afterward, a gantry robot picks up the completed case and places it onto a pallet. The machine features two loading stations with automatic discharge conveyors.
Company: Apex Motion Control
Website: apexmotion.com
Equipment Snapshot: The Baker-Bot MAX is an industrial user-friendly cobot that is designed specifically to handle food and bakery palletizing tasks. The Baker-Bot MAX cobot utilizes the smallest footprint possible while helping address the labor crisis, and offering a quick deployment and ROI. With a payload of 44 lbs, a reach of almost 70 inches, and a palletizing height of 89 inches, the Baker-Bot MAX can be quickly set up just about anywhere on the plant floor with minimal guarding.
Company: Colborne Foodbotics
Website: colbornefoodbotics.com
Equipment Snapshot: Colborne Foodbotics, Lake Forest, IL, offers a palletizing system that leverages the design features of its robotic packaging systems. A multi-purpose, end-of-arm tool is designed to execute multiple tasks. Within the system, the robot un-stacks pallets on a unit basis to prepare for loading; the same robot and EOAT picks cases or trays and loads them onto the pallet. The robot also can place slip sheets. “This is a great option for users who need to fit a palletizing system in a small footprint,” says Rick Hoskins, president.
Company: Columbia Machine Inc.
Website: columbiamachine.com
Equipment Snapshot: Columbia Machine Inc., Vancouver, WA, has developed a servo-controlled star wheel turner that is well suited to end-of-line palletizing solutions for small packages. “The Columbia star wheel turner is especially well suited to the snack food industry due to its flexibility in handling a variety of package types and sizes and where there are many contract package manufacturers,” says Ted Yeigh, marketing manager, Northwest Region, and Palletizer Div.
Company: Delkor Systems Inc.
Website: www.delkorsystems.com
Equipment Snapshot: Delkor Systems Inc., Minneapolis, MN, has introduced a robotic palletizing system with an integrated stretch wrapper that builds the pallet on the stretch wrapper. This has two benefits, according to Dan Altman, vice president of sales and marketing. First, there is no need to move a fully built (but unstable) pallet downstream to a stretch wrapper. Second, floor space is saved with the elimination of a pallet transport conveyor. “The modular design of this system allows for products and pallets to come in and out from any side of the pallet cell. It also accommodates slip sheets, tier sheets, and top sheets with ease.”
Delkor’s robotic palletizing system allows the forklift driver or automated guided vehicle to pick up a fully wrapped pallet and bring it to the desired destination, or directly onto a truck. “In conventional setups, the forklift driver has to move the unwrapped pallet to a standalone stretch wrapper, which takes time and reduces efficiency as unwrapped, unstable pallets can shift in transport,” Altman notes.
Company: Paxiom Group
Website: www.paxiom.com
Equipment Snapshot: Paxiom Group, Las Vegas, offers the EndFlex Z.ZAG Palletizer, which uses vacuum generators to pick up cases one at a time and place them on a pallet from above. Its suction capacity is capable of lifting 40-lb boxes at speeds up to 360 boxes per hour.
Company: Yaskawa Motoman
Website: www.motoman.com
Equipment Snapshot: Yaskawa Motoman, Miamisburg, OH, has introduced the HC10DTP, HC20DTP, and HC30PL collaborative robots. All three can be used for snack and bakery palletizing applications because they feature IP67 environmental ratings and come with food grade grease as standard. The HC30PL is designed for use in collaborative palletizing operations, offering a 30kg payload with a maximum reach of 1,700mm.
Company: Robotiq, Lévis
Website: robotiq.com
Equipment Snapshot: Robotiq, Lévis, Québec, Canada, offers the Robotiq Palletizing Solution. A material handling copilot guides the user through the process of defining the palletizing process. Once the user enters the box weight and dimensions, he or she can drag and drop the pallet layout on-screen. “The Robotiq Palletizing Solution takes it from there,” says Ryan Weaver, commercial vice president. “The cobot automatically picks and places the boxes of product exactly where they belong on the pallet. Once the stack is high enough, the servo-controlled vertical axis coordinates the lifting of the robot, so pallets up to 108″ can be built quickly.”