Bedfordshire-based Mechelec Automation has developed a new trolley collation and packing system for the dairy industry.
The TP1002 Trolley Packer is designed to provide fully automated, cost-effective trolley loading, at faster operating speeds than current systems.
The TP1002 is intended for use in both major and provincial dairies, offering flexible throughput for NIS, INFINI and ECO dairy bottles. It uses a robotic arm to quickly and efficiently load two static trolleys simultaneously, offering double the packing speed of conventional systems from a comparable footprint. This elegant solution eliminates the need to manipulate trolleys, avoiding the common compatibility issues arising from differing designs or damaged trolleys. The simplicity and open construction of the robotic system also allows easier access and maintenance, as well as faster switching between bottle sizes and product streams, e.g. shrink-wrapped products.
MECHELEC director John Salisbury said: “This innovative solution is a direct result of many years of industry experience across the food and beverage and dairy industries.
"By identifying the major issues affecting mechanised trolley packing, we have been able to develop a novel solution which is well suited to dairies large and small, providing a robust and cost-effective alternative to conventional options.”
