Providing the automation and space needed for social distancing
With the introduction of social distancing measures , end-to-end automation to facilitate fewer people along the production line will be the aim for some manufacturers as the pandemic rumbles on . For those companies who have partially automated the process already , extending automation beyond production and into packaging processes will make a print and apply labelling system an appealing option .
18 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
In a manual packaging environment , where typically between two and four people are needed to complete the process from erecting the boxes , packing , sealing , labelling and palletising , operating in a confined space is no longer an option under current social distancing guidelines . Spacing people two metres apart is causing major problems in this environment , drastically reducing the speed of throughput and slowing down production . What we ’ re observing now are manufacturers taking this as an opportunity to plug the gaps in their automation process which previously may not have been considered a priority and this is where print and apply labelling systems can help .
The benefits of a print and apply solution , of course , pre-date social distancing restrictions . Manual printing and applying of labels , where batches of labels are pre-printed in bulk in a designated print room and brought to the packaging line to be applied by hand , poses the risk of the wrong label being applied , which is a major security issue . There ’ s also the waste to factor in ; as the clock strikes midnight and the codes are revised to reflect a new date , pre-printed labels become unusable and get thrown away . Print and apply labelling systems create the label in real time , on the line , with the security of built-in barcode verification , enabling an efficient workflow and reducing manual labour costs .
Of course , with cost effective , quick to deploy cobots so readily available on the market you can quickly automate the box packing , pre-label and seal and auto palletise post label and seal . Cobalt can supply a case sealing and labelling system in one small footprint that ’ s ready to run .
01270 539800 sales @ cobaltis . co . uk www . cobaltis . co . uk