The need for flexibility in packing machinery becomes more and more apparent. And flexibility is exactly one of the most obvious qualities that follows out of the integration of robotics in packaging machinery. Overall, we have begun to see customer acknowledgement that robotics offer a level of flexibility not inherent in dedicated packaging machinery. Robotics allows a company to rededicate their capital asset, in this case the robot and often conveyance, to other or new product configurations. For example, a producer now packing chocolate bars in a single stack configuration can switch to a multiple stack configuration or even a display carton, effectively moving from consumer packing to display packing. This sort of inter-functional flexibility can be invaluable particularly if you are in a market whose products have short life-cycles, or if your packaging and delivery frequently change.
Another asset of robotic feeding is that the robot can also be used to include a buffer system in the line. When the down stream machine has stopped, the upstream machine can continue producing since the robot will not feed the products to the stopped machine but to a FILO buffer conveyor. Once the machine has restarted, the robot will feed products alternatively coming from the production line mixed with products fed back from the buffer system, thus enhancing the line efficiency in a remarkable way. Now that’s using your capital wisely.
Looking to the future, it seems that the obstacle to further growth is more human, not technological. People are comfortable with what they know (conventional machinery) and see new ideas as risky. It’s Langenpac’s job to show just how reliable and sensible robots can be in the right situation and application. Sometimes conventional packaging is the best answer, but sometimes so many opportunities are missed by believing that there must be only one way to do something.
The next innovation? More foresight in the robotic controller so that production spikes or lulls are anticipated by the robot and its behaviour then gets regulated to smooth out the line productivity. This goes hand-in-hand with tighter integration with MIS systems and richer data collection.
Langenpac NV (www.langenpac.com) designs, manufactures and integrates the components required to put products in cartons. Our services include system installation, production support, training and machine rentals. We offer innovative robotic solutions, standard packaging machinery, custom infeeds and line integration.
For more information on Langenpac contact Springvale Equipment Ltd – 01420 542505 www.springequip.co.uk
