FANUC UK, the UK unit of the Japanese automation company FANUC, has collaborated with automation specialists Festo and Pacepacker to come up with advanced robot palletiser systems that can assist food manufacturers with their packaging.
The firms will be working together to develop systems based on robotics that can handle bags, boxes, crates, trays and slip sheets easily.
FANUC UK regional sales manager John Rainer was quoted by Packaging Today as saying: "Food packers with space and budget constraints are looking for compact palletising systems capable of handling a variety of packs types. In the last 12 months we've seen enquiries for multi-tasking robot palletisers increase by 35%."
Pacepacker, the system integrator for FANUC, will use Festo technology to come up with 'robot hands' as a package handling equipment. Equipped with gripper fingers and different sets of vacuum suction cups, and end-effectors, the robot arm will facilitate product transfers easily.
John Rainer added: "A single robot arm will prepare pallets and slip sheets, before handling a variety of pack types including sacks, crates, boxes and trays."
Robots from FANUC have been improvised and equipped to survive harsh conditions, and still be strong and fast. Besides being compact, the use of latest vision technology also increases their effectiveness.
Auto processors are in demand as ergonomic issues, labour availability and uncertainty of costs for legislation are associated with manual processes.
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), rapid-fire product and pack changes driven by sustainability initiatives and shelf impact are the advantages offered by the use of robots as palletisers.
FANUC has also come up with ROBOGUIDE to help the customers and integrators for visualising and installing the robots for a safe and convenient use.
John Rainer said: "In production scenarios where humans and robots are occupying the same space, the latest simulation tools now satisfies stakeholder concerns over worker safety."
FANUC has other range of products to help with installations and use of robot palletiser systems as well, which includes DCS (Dual Check Safety) software, PMC (Programmable Machine Controller) etc.
