how a pizza dough producer tackled palletizing challenges

Palletizing could seem easy—till you’re lifting 43-pound bins all day, stacking them six toes excessive, and struggling to search out employees keen to tackle the grueling process. For one pizza dough producer, this bottleneck wasn’t simply slowing manufacturing—it was making staffing a continuing headache. The answer? Automation. See how Robotiq’s PE20 palletizer helped them overcome area constraints, cut back reliance on temp labor, and hold manufacturing transferring. 

The corporate

This specific buyer has a singular focus: they make and distribute pizza dough. With only a handful of SKUs, their course of is streamlined—however not with out its challenges. Their dough balls are packed into bins and shipped to distributors serving eating places, retail, and meals service companies.

The problem: a job nobody wished

Palletizing would possibly seem easy, however for this producer, it turned a serious bottleneck. The bins weighed as much as 43 kilos every (20 kg), and stacks reached as much as six toes excessive (1.8m). The repetitive lifting and overhead work made it an extremely strenuous job—one which was virtually inconceivable to employees.

The corporate relied closely on temp labor to fill their two 10-hour shifts, which got here at a excessive price and with fixed turnover. In some instances, manufacturing needed to decelerate simply to shift employees to cowl the palletizing process. It was clear: this job wanted automation.

Why Robotiq’s resolution was the proper match (actually)  

A number of components made Robotiq’s palletizing resolution the precise selection:

1. Dealing with Heavy Containers – The corporate was initially contemplating a heavier-duty industrial robotic, however the timing was good: Common Robots had simply elevated the payload capability of the UR20 from 20 kg to 25 kg. This meant that as a substitute of going with a bigger system, they might deploy the compact and environment friendly PE20 cobot palletizer, which was more cost effective and higher suited to their wants.
2. A Compact Footprint – House was tight. Conventional industrial palletizers have been removed from ideally suited on account of their giant footprint. Robotiq’s resolution, with its versatile and compact design, was in a position to match into the client’s out there area with simply inches to spare. With the assistance of Robotiq’s utility staff, the setup was optimized to perform seamlessly inside these constraints.
3. Good Path Planning – In a cluttered setting, motion issues. Robotiq’s software program permits customers to outline restricted zones, making certain the robotic can function effectively even in shut quarters. This was crucial in making the system work throughout the buyer’s workspace.

Recommendation for producers contemplating automation

In the event you suppose automation isn’t attainable on your facility, suppose once more. This buyer initially assumed their constraints—field weight, restricted area, and the character of their operation—would make robotic palletizing inconceivable. However by bringing the problem to Robotiq, they discovered an answer tailor-made to their wants.

For any producer dealing with labor shortages, excessive turnover, or bodily demanding duties, the important thing takeaway is that this: don’t rule out automation earlier than exploring the chances. With the precise know-how and the precise staff, even the hardest challenges will be solved.

In the event you’re fighting an identical bottleneck, attain out. We’ll make it easier to discover a method to make automation be just right for you.