FlexLink has launched the RC20, a standardized palletizing cell. The company said it designed the system to extend its end-of-line automation portfolio to heavier cases and higher-throughput applications, while maintaining the compact footprint, flexibility, and ease of use that characterize collaborative palletizing.
“With RC20, we are extending collaborative palletizing into applications that require higher payloads and throughput, while preserving the compactness and accessibility that make this technology valuable on the shop floor,” stated Henrik Furhoff, CEO of FlexLink. “Its unique safety concept helps avoid the larger operational footprint and unnecessary stoppages often associated with safety scanners or fencing, giving manufacturers a standardized solution to automate end-of-line operations in a safe, flexible, and scalable way.”
The new palletizing cell sits between the lightweight RC12 collaborative palletizer with a payload up to 10 kg (22 lb.) and larger industrial palletizing systems. FlexLink said the RC20 broadens its product portfolio with higher payload capability and speed.
The RC20 is also designed to to minimize the area required for installation and operation while ensuring safe interaction between operators and the palletizer.
Gothenburg, Sweden-based FlexLink is a subsidiary of Coesia, a material handling systems provider. It has operating units in 30 countries and partners in more than 60 countries. The company will bring the RC20 to U.S. audiences at PACK EXPO International in Chicago in October.
FlexLink targets end-of-line applications
FlexLink designed the RC20 for end-of-line applications in industries such as food, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and pharmaceuticals. In these industries, modern production environments increasingly demand palletizing systems that combine high performance with enhanced operator protection.
The collaborative palletizing cell is CE-certified and UL-compliant. It is based on a standardized product platform that supports consistent performance and late-stage customization where needed, FlexLink claimed. The RC20 is equipped with the FANUC CRX20 force- and power-limited robot arm.
With payloads up to 17 kg (37.4 lb.), the RC20 expands the range of cobot palletizing while maintaining high operational efficiency. Throughput can reach up to six boxes per minute and up to 12 boxes per minute with double pick, said FlexLink.
RC20 can also achieve a maximum pallet height of 2.4 m (7.8 ft.). As with palletizing cells in general, throughput and achievable pallet height depend on case specifications, pallet size, and palletizing pattern, and they should be confirmed for each application, the company noted.
RC20 offers easy setup and close collaboration at speed
RC20 uses Robot Config, which FlexLink said supports quick setup and changeovers. The software allows users to configure pallet patterns in minutes and validates them through a background simulation of the palletizing process, eliminating the need for dry runs.
This saves valuable setup time and supports trouble-free operation, even without robotic expertise. FlexLink said it also helps ensure efficient palletizing across changing SKUs.
RC20’s safety architecture enables operators to pass close to the palletizer without stopping the machine or reducing its speed, while maintaining safe operation, the company asserted. Unlike traditional safety systems such as scanners or fences, it avoids unnecessary stoppages and resets when someone moves near the unit.
Compared with setups that combine fencing and a front scanner, RC20’s safety architecture also preserves the palletizer’s flexibility and mobility, said FlexLink.