Improved process quality
A sweet
deal
Highly efficient packaging lines
at Lotte Confectionary’s plant in
Pyeongtaek are helping to satisfy
South Korean sugar cravings.
Text John Scott Marchant Photography K. H. Jung
S
ince opening for business in
1967, South Korea’s Lotte Con-
fectionary Co. Ltd. has known
the sweetness of success. To-
day, local and overseas consumers buy
more of the company’s high-quality fare
than ever before, driving production of its
much-loved biscuits, candy, chewing gum,
chocolate and ice cream to record levels.
But it takes more than luck to become
the top confectioner in South Korea. The
company’s plant managers are renowned
for their efficiency, and take great pride
in ensuring that every part of their opera-
tions functions at maximum efficiency.
A few years back, the Lotte Pyeong-
taek plant in Gyeonggi Province, south of
Seoul, was plagued by repeated break-
downs and poor uptime of its tradition-
al automated packaging lines. Having
heard that two FlexPicker robots in-
14
ABB robotics 2|10
stalled by ABB at a company ice cream
plant in 2005 were performing admirably,
the company began to consider building
two robotic lines at Pyeongtaek.
After consulting with a major subcon-
tractor who was using FlexPicker robots,
Lotte decided to take the plunge. A Lotte
spokesman said, “Management was
convinced that introducing ABB’s robotic
technology would improve productivity,
reduce turnaround times and lower fail-
ure rates.” ABB channel partner Winner in
Factory Automation (WIFA) designed, built
and installed two lines, each utilizing five
FlexPicker IRB 360 robots.
Keeping up with demand
“Chic Choc,” Lotte’s first new line, be-
gan operation in March 2009. It was fol-
lowed less than a year later by “Cus-
tard.” The spokesman said, “Chic Choc
Winner in Factory
Automation (WIFA)
Founded in 2005, the company pro-
vides robotics solutions to major
firms in South Korea’s consumer
goods industry. Its headquarters are
in Cheonan, South Korea.
cookies and Custard cakes were chosen
for the company’s first major foray into
robotic packaging because of consumer
demand. These are two of Lotte’s most
iconic and popular brands, and we need-
ed faster production to keep up.”
Lee Sang-ho, a section chief with
ABB South Korea, explains that Lotte’s