Robotics systems can offer a flexible and cost-effective solution to the complex palletising demands within the consumer goods industry.  ABB Flexible Automation has launched a palletising package that allows tailored solutions which keep pace with the ever changing demands of this sector.

The company's introduction of a new robotics palletising system has been designed with the aim of boosting productivity through flexibility in programming coupled with higher load capacity and faster cycles.
Mats Skoglund, Segment Manager, says, "There is tremendous opportunity for flexible automated palletising systems within the consumer goods sector." Many of the traditional palletising systems already installed in this sector, explains Skoglund, offer limited scope to deal with the trends in the industry towards shorter batch production, rapid changes between products and just-in-time manufacturing.

Improved cycle performance
In the consumer products sector, companies are faced with competitive cost pressures that are reflected in the need to ensure production throughput with minimum downtime and maintenance. Equipment has to provide a flexible, cost effective answer to each application in a market which has to respond to rapidly changing trends in consumer taste.
The ABB palletising system can stack different sized products being fed from a number of production lines. Equally, the system can unstack as well as stack and offer a level of automation tailored to meet the specific needs of the user. The new IRB 640 robot and its associated controller which is based on technology that has demonstrated a well proven reliability and productivity record in a number of industrial application areas. This new four axis machine, according to Mats Skoglund has a 30 per cent improved cycle performance when compared with the company's existing robot coupled with a 30 per cent higher load capacity of up to 160 kg(352 lbs).

Off-line programming
This is programmed using a software package, PalletWare, with its library of frequently used stacking patterns provides a quick and straightforward way of programming the palletising system.
The company also offers an off-line programming facility through PalletWizard, a CD Rom-based program, that uses ABB's proprietary language to create palletising routines that can mix pallet sizes and offer the most, efficient packing routine for a particular production run.

Caption: With an in-built library of stacking patterns, the ABB palletising system can be programmed quickly and provide for flexible working.

For further information, please contact:
ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
Ann Smith, Marketing Communication Manager
2487 South Commerce Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151, USA
Phone (414) 785 8532
Fax (414) 785 0342
http://www.abb.se/robotics/welcome.htm

ABB Flexible Automation, Mats Skoglund
S-721 68 Västerås, Sweden
Phone: +46 21-34 42 99
Fax: +46 21-34 41 88
E-post: mats.skoglund@serop.mail.abb.com
http://www.abb.se/robotics/welcome.htm

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