Page 31 - EngineerIT July 2022

AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

Robot-assisted automation solutions offer support for several products and switched
Smart robot-based automation solutions can help overcome the need for manual between them at the touch of a button.
labour that arises in HMLV production. Such solutions include robotic picking, packing, For users, this means greater flexibility,
palletizing, machine tending and optimized automated intralogistics. Robot-based fewer machine idle times, a reduction
automation gives co-packing service providers or producers who handle this activity in the workload for employees, and
in-house the flexibility, productivity and reliability they need to handle ever-shorter lower costs and complexity in the (re)
product life cycles, changing package designs, different package sizes and product packaging line.
variants. The following typical five deployment challenges and solution options show
what this can look like. Challenge 2: Material replenishment
on the line
Challenge 1: Mixing products in secondary packaging Optimal replenishment on the line is
Mixing different single products in a display carton presents challenges. One example key to improving overall equipment
of this is that the integrity and correctness of such multipacks must be ensured. effectiveness (OEE), avoiding waiting
Manual processes might be very flexible but may affect the quality and are not ideal times at machines. But that’s not
for repeatability. In addition, it may be hard to find and retain employees for these all: the manual activities involved
tasks. Another requirement is the transport of goods and consumables. Incoming goods in performing these tasks are often
awaiting packaging need to be processed quickly, but the packaging material must not ergonomic and can pose safety
also be readily available. To cope with this, pick-and-place technology for secondary problems. Therefore, it makes sense
packaging processes is the ideal solution. to improve line-side replenishment
To handle and improve the flow of goods, a solution combines a complete range of (LSR) while avoiding the need for
different robotic automation technologies, for example, into a single, fully integrated operators to perform these repetitive
packaging system that offers built-in algorithms that allow the different production lines tasks. Finally, automating the supply of
to be coordinated and flow rates to be optimised. consumables minimises intermediate
No programming skills are required, as the graphical user interface (GUI) is easy to storage of consumables and waste in
understand and use. With the help of a recipe manager, the line can also be configured the re-packing area.

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