Robotiq Inc. this week introduced two products that it claimed will pave the way for smarter palletizing. The PAL Ready and PAL Series are both part of its Lean Palletizing Experience.
Currently, 80% of goods worldwide end up on a pallet at some point, making it a critical step on the path between the supplier and customer. Too often, it’s also where time and money are lost, according to Robotiq. Many manufacturers only discover the palletizing bottleneck after they automate it, then quickly see operations become more productive, predictable, and competitive, said the company.
To give customers a palletizing option that delivers quick results, Robotiq has launched:
- PAL Ready, a production-ready palletizing cell that it said is fully assembled and can be running on Day 1.
- PAL Series, a modular approach that grows with customer needs, from one line to multi-site deployments, said Robotiq.
Both systems work with the same Robotiq software, tools, and operator experience. The company asserted that its Lean Palletizing Experience provides a way for manufacturers to start and scale automation projects quickly.
“It’s a complete digital-to-physical journey that transforms automation from complex, custom projects into a productized and scalable solution,” Robotiq said.
The Québec City, Canada-based company was founded in 2008 and has since created end-of-arm tooling for more than 13,000 collaborative bots worldwide. It specializes in palletizing, screwdriving, machine tending, and plug-and-play components.
PAL Ready is production-ready for fast deployment
PAL Ready is fully assembled, tested, and ready to run on arrival, said Robotiq. The company said it can help users get started with automating with confidence. It added that PAL Ready is designed for rapid installs.
The system comes with a Robotiq Smart Infeed, allowing any box to be presented to the palletizer at the right time and at the right place, automatically. Robotiq said it ensures an optimal output of the palletizer with minimum programming intervention.
PAL Ready also includes a mobility feature, allowing it to be used on different lines or simply moved out of the way for factory floor cleaning. Safety scanners and the Robotiq PowerPick Multi-Vacuum Gripper also come standard with PAL Ready.
Robotiq builds PAL Series for flexibility
PAL Series is a configurable option built from Robotiq’s standard AX or PE-series models, as well as its Robotiq Vacuum Grippers, Smart Infeed, Safety Packages, and Mobility Kit modules.
As customers’ needs grow, they can move from a single unit to multiple units or to modular deployments using the same software, building blocks, operator interface, and design logic.
All of this is part of the company’s Lean Palletizing Experience, which aims to encompass the entire palletizing journey. With Robotiq, users can select different applications with the Palletizing Fit Tool, simulate their cell layouts, see demonstration units with its Global Partner Network, launch production, and eventually scale deployments.