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Robotic arms have a long history in manufacturing. Robotic arms began appearing in automotive manufacturing in the 1960s. Now they have entered secondary packaging production lines. Robotic arms function and operate much like human arms, with joints that can move in different directions, pick up and place items. Due to technological developments, deploying them in smaller applications is now feasible and cost-effective, including secondary packaging. Using robotic arms for movement makes end-of-line packaging more effortless and efficient.
First, let's quickly review trends. Robotic automation is developing rapidly, even faster than expected. As early as 2014, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies report on food packaging and processing trends and progress predicted that 82% of U.S. manufacturing plants would use robotics technology. This reached 90% in 2019, and within the next five years, manufacturing workshops equipped with at least some robots will be nearly universal. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the food industry's demand for robotic automation, from production to packaging all the way to end-of-line secondary packaging.
Maximize uptime with reliable machines, as product lifecycles are becoming shorter, which may obsolete some equipment. This is why many enterprises deploy robots. When box quantities and product dimensions vary greatly, existing equipment faces difficulties in increasing output, especially when its design is not conducive to repeatability and quick conversion. Food manufacturers need more flexibility in end-of-line equipment than ever before.
When humans assemble boxes, it's a headache-inducing job. It's repetitive, can lead to repetitive strain injuries, and offers little help for job satisfaction. Robotic automation provides equally flexible capabilities to handle such tasks, allowing employees to engage in more efficient, valuable work.
SCARA robots replaced these mechanical movements, significantly reducing the number of cylinders and components applied by 50%. Fewer parts mean less maintenance, and SCARA robots feature first-class repeatability. Servo motors repeat the operation with high accuracy over and over again.
Traditional palletizers typically require more machine adjustments and calibrations during conversion processes. Robotic palletizers utilize servo-controlled motion with high repeatability. This greatly reduces the need for adjustments and calibrations to get the production line running again, thereby improving overall uptime.
For manufacturers, infrastructure is a significant expense, meaning cost per square foot is a critical metric. In factories with limited floor space, traditional palletizers with more mechanical components will occupy a larger footprint compared to SCARA robotic palletizers.
Operating SCARA robots are quieter than the mechanical components of traditional palletizers. With fewer mechanical parts and smoother machine motion, decibel levels in production workshops can be reduced.
