The Challenge
A labor intensive operation that involves kitting bottles into small cases, closing the cases, then packing them into a master case. Using in house workers led to worker's compensation injuries and claims. Using temporary workers was found to be un-reliable, resulting in difficulties in forecasting accurate production quotas. Either way, it was nearly impossible to keep workers on this job!
The Solution
Smart Motion Robotics designed and manufactured a system to handle both operations using a single FANUC M420i/A robot, and a series of custom automation modules that opened the product cases, closed the product cases, and accumulated the cases into an array of 8 cases per layer. The robot placed the bottles into the product cases when opened, and placed the closed, accumulated product cases into a master case.
Use of a FANUC Robotics’ system combined with other sensors resulted in a fully automated packing system, which helped to assure more consistent product quality than either manual packing systems or traditional packing automation.
The key to making these systems productive is: 1) maximizing system reliability, 2) understanding the overall processes being performed and 3) integrating both process control and monitoring into your existing plant-wide production system.
To achieve maximum reliability, our process engineers start with standard products and combine them with whatever custom-engineered components are necessary to tie the system together and make it work effectively with the balance of your operation.
Call Smart Motion Robotics, Inc. at 847-836-7744 for more information on this solution. Ask about our FREE CD offer
Fixed Automation Closes Boxes..
