Effective palletising key for safe transit

Therefore, an increasing number of buyers are looking for added-value solutions to increase the productivity of their production lines whilst reducing capital outlay. For manufacturers of packaging and palletising machinery, the challenge is to develop efficient solutions that are quick, easy to operate and high quality in order to minimise maintenance requirements and effectively add value.

Experience is power

Every stage of a food and drinks processing line is important but, when the finished products come off the line, a great deal of thought must be given to designing an effective packaging and palletising system that will ensure products will remain intact during transit. If not, the effort taken to manufacture the product to a high standard would be wasted – not to mention having a huge effect on the profitability of the business.

In the food and drinks industry, due to the huge variety of shapes, sizes, weights and textures of produce, the need for manufacturers to be able to identify the individual needs and then supply versatile palletising and packaging machinery is essential. Baked goods such as bread, for instance, will require greater precision and gentler product handling in comparison with robust produce such as tinned goods, increasing the need for mechanically driven and controlled perimeter guides on the pallet loading station to minimise jolting movements. The material used for transportation packaging is also an essential consideration. Cardboard, for example, is more sensitive to pressure than plastic alternatives, as well as being lighter, so the optimum stacking height must be identified to ensure the products within will remain intact whilst utilising the space intelligently to maximise production. Plastic crates are more robust but also quite frequently slide out of position on the conveyor, so a centring system will be necessary to ensure that the crates are positioned correctly.

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It requires knowledge and experience for systems handling manufacturers to identify and develop such solutions in order to achieve a high functioning logistics centre that will, in every instance, deliver operational certainty – one of the key aspects of effective palletising. Those who have been in the business for years will have a broad portfolio of completed projects behind them, demonstrating not only the reliability of their products but that they have the expertise to integrate these in countless tried and tested configurations in order to create the perfect solution, whatever the specification.  Although it is true that every equipment order will bring its own unique variation of challenges, there will also be many potential issues that an experienced company will have seen and be able to recognise, even at the tendering stage, to avoid potential complications. That is why materials handling manufacturers should offer a consultative service from beginning to end, with clear communication bypassing any possible issues.

Forward thinking

Client requirements can vary from a simple standalone palletising machine to a complex integrated production line incorporating conveyors, platforms, palletisers and robots, requiring the comprehensive assistance and back up of the materials handling system manufacturer’s own expert engineering team. The ever-growing need for innovative solutions means it is essential for an experienced supplier to balance their proven history with a firm focus on the future and buyers are advised to investigate the equipment manufacturer’s commitment to offering the very latest technologies, both through their own product development and through partnerships with specialised companies.

Automation is the obvious example. Robotics first made its mark in the automotive industry, but there is now a worldwide trend towards automation in other manufacturing industries. Market analyst IMS research predicts a rise in the UK robotics market of 3.4% from 2011 to 2016 due to a rapidly increasing interest from the food and drinks market. This is in large part due to the advances in robotic technology that have adapted to meet the needs of this sector, including the use of PC-based robot controllers which makes control incredibly precise and is readily adaptable to changing production requirements or entirely new production tasks, such as new palletising patterns or the transportation of different types of packaging.

Although there will always be the need for some degree of human supervision, specialised robot models are increasingly being used to carry out repetitive tasks, particularly the strenuous lifting and stacking of products as they are transported to the storage area of the factory prior to distribution. Therefore, a materials handling supplier must be able to offer a service that can successfully integrate automation with their own high quality conveying and palletising systems, resulting in a complete solution that is fast, efficient, cost-effective and long-lasting – adding the value that food manufacturers are looking for.