We’ve highlighted the importance of robotic palletisation a couple of times so far. Introduced in the 1980s, it’s one of the most well-established, popular robotic handling solutions. Indeed, palletising robots play such a vital role in end-of-line operations that it’s worth exploring what they’re used for in detail.
Palletising robots excel at picking up, manipulating and stacking objects – typically products being prepared for transportation – on pallets. They arrange items in patterns and layers and create uniform pallet loads that can be moved by forklift or pallet jack. They can handle sacks, bales, crates and bags too.
Additional tasks performed by palletising robots include placing empty pallets on staging platforms, sorting and packaging products, wrapping pallet loads and de-palletising (i.e. unstacking pallets when you receive deliveries).
When fitted with grippers, suction cups or other end-of-arm attachments, they can handle all kinds of objects without dropping or damaging them. And thanks to their mechanical precision and agility, palletising robots achieve a faster cycle time than is possible by hand. Plus, they never get tired, injured or need breaks. Payload capacities in excess of 1,000 kg aren’t uncommon, and there are even palletising robots built to withstand extreme temperatures (ideal for cold storage units, say).
The video below features one of Cyber-Weld’s impressive robotic material handling systems, Champs, and shows how successfully robots perform end-of-line palletisation.