Robotic Palletizing Systems

Robotic Palletizing Systems for Manufacturing Automation

Robotic palletizing systems automate the repetitive process of picking products and arranging them onto pallets for storage, handling or shipment. Depending on the application, these systems can use collaborative robots or traditional industrial robots to handle cases, boxes, bags, containers and manufactured components.

Hillary Machinery offers both pre-engineered cobot palletizing systems and custom robotic palletizing solutions designed around the product, payload, production rate, pallet pattern and manufacturing process.

What Is Robotic Palletizing?

Robotic palletizing uses a programmable robot and end-of-arm tooling to pick products from a conveyor, staging location or production process and place them onto a pallet in a defined pattern.

The robot repeats the programmed sequence as products arrive, building pallet layers until the required pallet configuration is complete.

Why Automate Palletizing?

Palletizing is repetitive material-handling work that can require employees to repeatedly lift, move and position products throughout a production shift. Robotic automation can transfer this repetitive handling task to an automated system.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced repetitive manual lifting and handling
• More consistent pallet patterns
• Reduced dependence on hard-to-fill repetitive labor positions
• Consistent production throughout the shift
• Reduced operator fatigue
• Improved utilization of available labor
• Support for extended production hours
• Repeatable product placement
• Ability to handle multiple pallet patterns when properly configured

Cobot Palletizing Systems

Cobot palletizing systems use collaborative robots for palletizing applications where flexibility, compact installation and operator-friendly automation are important.

Cobot palletizers can be particularly attractive for manufacturers that need to automate repetitive palletizing without installing a large traditional robotic cell.

EcoPalletizer Cobot Palletizing Systems

Hillary Machinery offers EcoPalletizer automated robotic palletizing systems for manufacturers looking for a flexible approach to end-of-line palletizing automation.

EcoPalletizer configurations can provide an alternative to fully custom automation when the product, payload, production rate and pallet requirements fit a pre-engineered palletizing platform.

View Available EcoPalletizer Systems

Custom Robotic Palletizing Systems

Some palletizing applications require more payload, reach, speed or application-specific engineering than a pre-engineered cobot system can provide. In these situations, a custom industrial robotic palletizing system can be engineered around the actual production process.

Custom systems can incorporate robot selection, end-of-arm tooling, conveyors, product handling, pallet positioning, sensors, controls and other automation equipment as required by the application.

Explore Custom Robotic Systems

FANUC Robotic Palletizing

FANUC robots can be configured for palletizing applications across a broad range of payload and reach requirements. The appropriate robot should be selected around the product weight, end-of-arm tooling, required reach, pallet height and production rate.

Hillary Machinery is a FANUC Authorized Systems Integrator and can integrate FANUC robotic technology into palletizing and other manufacturing automation applications.

Explore FANUC Robotics

What Products Can a Robot Palletize?

Robotic palletizing can be applied to many products when appropriate end-of-arm tooling and product handling are available.

• Boxes and cartons
• Cases
• Bags and sacks
• Containers
• Packaged products
• Trays
• Manufactured components
• Machine parts
• Other repeatable products suitable for robotic handling

Robotic Palletizing End-of-Arm Tooling

End-of-arm tooling, or EOAT, is one of the most important components of a palletizing system. The tooling must reliably pick, move and release the product throughout the required production cycle.

Depending on the product, palletizing tooling can use vacuum gripping, mechanical gripping or other application-specific handling methods.

Pallet Patterns & Product Changeover

Palletizing systems can be programmed around specific pallet patterns, product dimensions and layer configurations. Applications involving multiple products should also be evaluated for the required changeover between products and pallet patterns.

Product size, orientation, pallet dimensions and stability requirements all affect the appropriate stacking pattern.

Cobot vs. Industrial Robot Palletizing

Both collaborative and traditional industrial robots can provide effective palletizing automation. The appropriate choice depends on the application.

Cobot palletizers can be attractive for flexible applications, moderate payloads and compact installations. Industrial robot palletizing systems may be better suited to applications requiring greater payload, reach, speed or demanding production rates.

Choosing the Right Robotic Palletizing System

Palletizing automation should be selected around the complete production requirement rather than the robot alone. Hillary Machinery can help evaluate:

• Product dimensions
• Product weight
• Product material and packaging
• Required production rate
• Products per minute or hour
• Pallet dimensions
• Maximum pallet height
• Required pallet patterns
• Number of products or SKUs
• End-of-arm tooling
• Robot payload
• Robot reach
• Product infeed and conveyors
• Available floor space
• Product changeover requirements
• Safety and risk-assessment requirements

Robotic Palletizing Safety

The complete palletizing application must be evaluated for safe operation. Robot motion, payloads, end-of-arm tooling, conveyors, pallet locations and surrounding equipment can introduce hazards that must be considered during system design.

The use of a collaborative robot does not automatically eliminate the need for application-specific safety measures. Appropriate safeguards and operating limits should be determined through a risk assessment of the complete system.

Robotic Palletizing Frequently Asked Questions

What is robotic palletizing?

Robotic palletizing uses a programmable robot to pick products and arrange them onto pallets according to a defined stacking pattern.

What is a cobot palletizer?

A cobot palletizer is a palletizing system that uses a collaborative robot to pick and stack products onto pallets.

Can robots palletize boxes and cases?

Yes. Boxes, cartons and cases are common robotic palletizing applications. The robot, gripper and system should be selected around the product dimensions, weight and required production rate.

Can a robot palletize bags?

Yes, when appropriate end-of-arm tooling and handling methods are used. Bag material, weight, shape and stability must be considered when designing the palletizing application.

How do I choose between a cobot and an industrial robot?

Important considerations include product weight, required production rate, pallet height, robot reach, available floor space and the complete safety requirements of the application.

Can one palletizing system handle multiple products?

In many applications, yes. The system can potentially accommodate multiple products and pallet patterns when the robot, tooling, controls and product handling are designed for the required changeovers.

Automate Your Palletizing Process

Hillary Machinery can evaluate your product dimensions, weight, production rate, pallet patterns and material flow to determine the appropriate robotic palletizing solution for your application.

View Available Robotic Palletizing Systems or contact Hillary Machinery to discuss your palletizing application.