If you’re seeking to automate your finish of line course of with a palletizing resolution, there are a number of choices obtainable out there. Relying in your efficiency wants and price range, one resolution could also be a greater possibility than one other.

How do you evaluate the varied options to find out which one is correct?

The proper resolution can assist you optimize your manufacturing, make higher use of your handbook labor, and scale back prices. However the incorrect resolution might find yourself being an costly mistake.

By evaluating a collection of key issues — resembling value, throughput, ease of integration, and extra — you may make a greater choice that may make sure you discover a palletizing resolution that works for you.

Here is a information to evaluating the totally different palletizing options available on the market.

A step-by-step information to evaluating palletizing options

Earlier than you even take into consideration buying a palletizing resolution, it is best to first get clear on what you want from one.

Listed here are 5 steps for evaluating totally different options:

1. Perceive your wants and objectives — It is essential to have a transparent thought of what you need from a palletizing resolution. This may increasingly embrace efficiency metrics, resembling throughput or payload. However it might additionally embrace service necessities, like buyer assist or availability of coaching.

2. Analysis totally different options — When you clearly perceive your wants, it is time to analysis the totally different options obtainable out there. Use your chosen metrics as a information and do not be afraid to query suppliers for concepts on how they’d clear up your explicit challenges — they’re the consultants in their very own options, in any case.

3. Consider potential distributors — Take a look at the distributors that may provide an acceptable resolution in your palletizing wants. Additionally, pay attention to the associate networks — suppliers within the Robotiq associate community, for instance, can deploy The Palletizing Answer with further assist from Robotiq if obligatory.

4. Evaluate options in opposition to your metrics — After you have narrowed down your checklist of potential distributors, evaluate the proposed options in opposition to your chosen efficiency metrics. At this stage, that is extra of a “sanity test” to make sure you have not forgotten a key requirement throughout your search.

5. Make an knowledgeable choice — Lastly, determine which robotic palletizing resolution you’ll use. As you have got possible contacted distributors throughout your search, try to be ranging from a heat relationship.

You possibly can typically pace up this course of when you’ve got already seen a palletizing resolution working that you simply just like the look of. Many individuals who use the Robotiq Palletizing Answer beforehand noticed it working in one other facility or in certainly one of our commerce truthful cubicles.

11 key issues when selecting a palletizing resolution

When evaluating totally different options, there are a couple of key issues that may be useful to take note of.

Listed here are 11 issues:

1. Forms of palletizing options

First, it is a good suggestion to change into aware of the varied forms of palletizing options obtainable.

Forms of palletization embrace totally handbook, semi-automatic, robotic, and full typical automation. Every has its personal advantages and is appropriate for various functions.

2. Price of full resolution

The price of a palletizing resolution is high of many individuals’s minds when they’re evaluating choices.

Whereas value is definitely essential, it’s extra essential to stability the return on funding with the price of the answer. Keep in mind that some options, notably typical automation, can incur further prices that aren’t instantly obvious.

3. Throughput capabilities

For a lot of corporations, including throughput to their palletizing activity is a high precedence. By rising the throughput of your finish of line course of, you possibly can typically enhance the output of your total operation.

There are additionally options of some options that may assist to extend throughput even additional. For instance, utilizing the Robotiq multipick characteristic can enhance throughput by 75%.

4. Scalability for development

Search for palletizing options that may be simply scalable, as your palletizing course of can straight have an effect on your potential to distribute merchandise effectively.

Handbook palletizing and rigid automation options can typically hinder the expansion of an organization. It’s more durable to scale than extra versatile palletizing options, notably when there are labor shortages.

5. High quality of palletizing

Whereas folks extra typically concentrate on the throughput features of palletizing automation, robots may considerably enhance the standard and consistency of palletizing. This results in fewer breakages and happier clients.

Search for options that may persistently meet the standard that your palletizing activity requires.

6. Ease of integration

For a lot of corporations, including the Robotiq Palletizing Answer is their first step into robotic automation. Because of this it is so essential that the answer is straightforward to combine.

Contemplate how straightforward it will likely be for you or certainly one of your staff members to edit the robotic program. If you select a straightforward to combine resolution, it offers you management over your individual palletizing course of.

7. Configuration choices

Completely different palletizing options could supply totally different configuration choices, together with including sensors and extra gear.

Higher configuration choices make it simpler to suit the answer to your particular wants. The PowerPick Gripper, for instance, gives 46 configuration choices.

8. Security options

Security ought to all the time be a precedence when palletizing. This is applicable each to automated options — which ought to have appropriate security options — and handbook palletizing, which may trigger questions of safety due to ergonomics.

Collaborative robots are normally inherently safer than different forms of automation. Nevertheless, even they require security fencing for palletizing as a result of nature of the duty.

9. Info and coaching

An element that folks typically neglect to think about is the quantity of data and coaching obtainable to assist your palletizing resolution. With the proper coaching, even members of your staff with no earlier robotics expertise can take cost of the working of the robotic.

For instance, the Robotiq eLearning platform is full of helpful programs that can assist you stand up and working with robotics shortly.

10. Buyer assist

One factor that customers of the Robotiq Palletizing Answer typically touch upon is the excessive stage of assist that comes when utilizing our merchandise.

Good buyer assist is important for troubleshooting any issues that will come up and guaranteeing your palletizing deployment runs easily.

11. Time from order to deployment

Lastly, a key consideration is how shortly it is possible for you to to deploy your palletizing resolution after you have determined to make use of robotics.

For a lot of clients, the Robotiq Palletizing Answer may be up and working inside a matter of weeks from the time of order. For extra custom-made variations, it will probably take a couple of months.

Get began with robotic palletizing now

Shifting to robotic palletizing does not should be a frightening course of. When you realize what you’re in search of in a palletizing resolution, you will get began shortly, simply, and with the boldness that your chosen resolution will give you the results you want.

If you wish to get began shortly, get in touch with us in regards to the Robotiq Palletizing Answer and allow us to assist you to make your automation mission a hit.

What further issues do you have got when in search of options? Inform us within the feedback beneath or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics group.