Automated packing and palletising systems specialist Brillopak has introduced a versatile new robotic palletiser specifically designed for fresh fruit and vegetables, which is capable of placing a variety of container formats including crates, cases and trays onto pallets.
The new Brillopak Compact C211 has been developed following extensive research by Brillopak into the issues surrounding fresh produce packaging, in particular the challenges of supplying the retail sector.
One of the major findings was the relentless pressure on margins which requires companies to seek ongoing operational efficiencies, especially in terms of labour and cost reduction. At the same time, there is an increased focus on health and safety liabilities around heavy and repetitive lifting of cases, crates and pallets.
This problem is further highlighted by the fact that, while automation has been adopted throughout many fruit and vegetable packing lines, the end of line crate packing and palletising is still largely a manual process. The research identified that one of the reasons for this was the lack of available space in packhouses to install automation systems at the end of line.
Brillopak’s COMPACT C System has therefore been designed specifically to meet these challenges. The Compact C211 features highly compact dimensions, far smaller than conventional robot cells, which enable the machine to fit easily into even the smallest of factory spaces or to integrate with other packing equipment to provide a complete line solution.
The machine can palletise crates and cases at the rate of up to 30 per minute dependent on application. A multi-purpose end effector enables it to handle multiple sizes and a simple-to-use touchscreen with pre-set recipe function ensures easy operation and fast changeovers.
Brillopak says the system delivers a typical payback within 2 years.
“We have listened closely to the market in the development of this machine,” explains Brillopak director David Jahn.
“The Compact C211 satisfies the main requirements for fruit and vegetable end of line packing in terms of speed, efficiency and user-friendliness and provides the flexibility to enable companies to respond to changing retailer requirements.”
Additional machines in the COMPACT C range include the Brillopak C1 11 crate packer for a wide range of pre-packed fresh produce, C250 crate de-stacker, BK750 pallet stacker/de-stacker, crate bale arm closing unit, vision systems and Ethernet connection for remote access and support.
