Packing and palletising are areas where automation can deliver immediate efficiency gains without requiring a complete overhaul of the production line.
utilise vision systems and machine learning to determine the most efficient pallet patterns, and then use robots to pack accordingly. This will not only improve efficiency and cut waste, but also reduce manual handling and allow employees to be redeployed to tasks where human input adds greater value.
Automation doesn’ t have to mean sacrificing flexibility
12 FDPP- www. fdpp. co. uk
Automation can provide the repeatability and speed required for high-throughput operations while still accommodating changes in production. And the right system can help manufacturers increase efficiency without compromising their ability to respond to customer requirements.
The key, however, is choosing a solution that suits the manufacturer’ s actual operation, rather than trying to force the operation around a particular piece of technology. This is where the expertise of the wider automation supply chain becomes important. Robot OEMs have detailed knowledge of their own technologies, but they may not always have the specialist understanding required to determine how those technologies should be applied within a particular food manufacturing environment.