Q: As a traditional packaging machinery supplier, why the move into robotics?
A: We know that being the supplier of choice entails providing comprehensive packaging solutions to our customers. We continually develop and offer enhancements to our existing products and solutions. Robotics was a natural extension of our continuous product improvement effort.
Easily integrated and supported by our existing line of case and tray erectors, formers and sealers, robotic loading and palletizing solutions provide the ability to lower the risk associated with capital equipment purchases by utilizing a proven technology that increases solution flexibility while reducing total operating cost.
The recent acquisition of GSMA Systems, a leading robotics integrator, combined with our strategic alliance with FANUC Robotics America, provides SWF with extensive expertise in applying robotic technology to solve challenging packaging applications.
Q: Are there opportunities to use robotics in both primary and secondary packaging applications?
A: For the last several years, robotics has played a large role in palletization and depalletization, and those opportunities should continue to grow. With six-axis robots, the end-user has product handling options that traditional equipment just can't match.
The flexibility afforded by robotics for many case packing applications initially caught our interest. A surprise to us has been the interest we have seen with regards to primary packaging. Our Tisma division has generated significant interest in utilizing robotics for product handling/carton loading. As product collation and handling are typically the most difficult part of any cartoning application, robotics is able to offer more positive product control throughout the entire packaging process. Furthermore, many traditional horizontal cartoning customers are looking at robotics as a way to move to vertical, which provides greater product control, and the opportunity for higher throughput speeds.
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