TECH
Tech – Applied Integration CEO Garry Lofthouse with one of the firm ’ s cobots ( collaborative robots .)
APPLIANCE OF
AUTOMATED
SCIENCE
Tees firm is helping intrepid businesses introduce game-changing technology
PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH WORDS : PHILIP TALLENTIRE
We live in an increasingly automated world that offers huge benefits to the business community .
Applied Integration is at the forefront of a sector that , not so long ago , was in the realm of science fiction .
The innovative Stokesley firm is a leading systems integrator , specialising in delivering to clients the latest gamechanging technologies including cobots ( collaborative robots ), which are designed for direct interaction with humans .
Founded in 2005 , Applied Integration has a dynamic engineering team with decades of combined experience , and it offers solutions to companies looking to install an automated process or improve on their existing system .
For example , a firm in the logistics or warehouse sector may have a palletising operation which needs to be automated .
A switch to a robotic palletising solution has the potential to increase productivity and free up employees for higher valueadded tasks . It would not only make a significant difference in labour demands , but it would also slash the time it takes to get a product to the marketplace and improve overall cost effectiveness .
Efficiency can increase anywhere from 30 per cent to 400 per cent . In 2022 , almost half of all working hours in logistics are spent on manual routine jobs . However , by 2035 , automation will reduce that number to 35 per cent as a result of the increased deployment of AGVs ( automated guided vehicles ) and AMRs ( autonomous mobile robots ).
Applied Integration ’ s robotics and automation business and strategy manager Peter Moore is able to advise a client on the most appropriate solutions to its business needs and provide customers with the best industry knowledge to help streamline end-of-line packaging with a collaborative robotic palletiser .
“ We , as a company , are proud to partner with several leading companies ,” says Peter .
“ Through these partnerships , we are able to combine Applied Integration ’ s industry knowledge and our partners ’ robots to create the best end-of-line robotic palletising solution to suit the clients ’ needs and requirements .”
Robot-based automation delivers the flexibility , productivity and reliability a company requires to meet ever shorter product life-cycles , new packaging designs , multiple pack sizes and product variants .
Traditional palletising automation has several drawbacks , including a lack of flexibility and programming difficulties .
Robotic palletising eliminates those issues by combining cutting-edge technology to improve usability and raise throughput and quality .
64 | Tees Business