Robots have always played an important role in the packaging industry, improving operations and ensuring flexibility for future changes. The capabilities of robots will only further increase with time, as engineers all over the world are working diligently to upgrade them as we speak. So will robots soon take over the packaging industry? We’re not too sure about that just yet, although we can imagine them taking over entire
packaging production lines in the near future. Here are five reasons why:
1. Robots work around-the-clock
Robots have no problem working long shifts, overnight and during weekends with little supervision, which is sure to
increase output rates.
2. Robots can pick & place in a snap
For people in the food packaging industry, visual decision making (such as picking and placing products into
mixed variety packs) is a repetitive, yet complex and time-consuming process. For robots, however, making proper assortments is easy-breezy thanks to vision-guided systems.
Additionally, robots have no trouble handling
multiple applications on a single production line. With several robots installed at critical points of the production line, orders for multiple customers can be packaged on the same production line, at the same time, in no time at all.
3. Increased safety in the workplace
Robots are not affected by unsafe or unhealthy working conditions such as heat, dust, humidity… They can easily go where no human can (or ever should), diminishing factory workers’ risk of injury or even death.
4. Better hygiene
While human workers can transfer germs and hazardous substances to the food they handle, the risk of
food contamination is minimal with robots.
5. Reduction of product waste
Robots can be set to
fine tolerance limits, which reduces waste. Their coordinated control systems eliminate only product waste or products that do not meet specific quality standards, maximizing product output.
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