Page 38 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2019

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
Robots revolutionise end-of-line process
Robotics automation technologies are set to transform manufacturing operations. Jack Bain from Robot Technologies- Systems Australia (RTA) explains this fast-growing sector.
THE food manufacturing industry faces expectations of increased operational speed and efficiency as operations grow, expand and flex to accommodate customer requirements. To meet market demands, companies are adopting automated end-of- line and distribution processes to increase line efficiencies.
Figures from the International Federation of Robotics reveal the market for materials handling robotics is set to almost double from $2.47 billion in 2016 to $4.64 billion by 2023. The market is segmented into: packaging robots; palletising robots; and picking robots.
It is well know that robotics technologies automate repetitive, time consuming, and tiring manual tasks. They can increase productivity, product quality and
efficiencies, leading to lower costs, increased profitability and customer satisfaction, as well as reduced WHS risks.
But what is less understood are the processes involved in designing and commissioning a robotic system that realises operational objectives. Or how
significant bottleneck in many production systems.
As robotics technology has evolved to better suit varying industrial manufacturing operations, the capabilities of the robot arm have become robust and sophisticated enough to be used as an
There are three main types of robot palletisers: cartesian (linear); selective compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA); and articulated. The articulated robotic palletiser is the most versatile and flexible robot available for most production line applications and the focus of this article.
The articulated arm movement is non-linear, can potentially move about with six degrees of freedom, has high cycle times, can manage payloads of up to 1000kg and also manage movement of products for multiple production lines at a time, and much more.
Palletising robots are specifically designed for high-speed, heavy payload, and long-reach palletising applications, and come equipped with a range of
38 | Food&Drink business | April 2019 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au
“ The market for materials handling robotics is set to almost double from $2.47 billion in 2016 to $4.64 billion by 2023.”
to calculate your return on investment.
Palletising robots have the largest market share of the materials handling applications segment due to huge industry demand for the loading and unloading of goods and their effectiveness at reducing a common and
effective palletiser.
In particular, it now
addresses three key challenges involved in automating palletising processes: pallet pattern flexibility; tooling flexibility and cycle time; and more recently mixed case or
SKU palletising.