Robotic Palletizers - Impact on Industries
Robotic palletizers are machines that automate the process of loading and unloading pallets with products. They can also be used to depalletize, which is another important part of many production lines. These systems are highly beneficial in businesses/warehouses that deal with handling high-SKU counts or multi-line operations.
The robotic palletizers market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.71% between 2022 to 2027. The market size of the industry is forecasted to increase by USD 1,783.61 million. One of the major contributing factors to the growth of the palletizer industry is the complete automation of the material handling operations in many warehouses. This reduces labour requirements & errors while driving market growth. Many Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognizing the advantages of automating their business with robots, rather than using conventional palletizers.
Robotic Palletizers vs Conventional Palletizers
Both these types of palletizers deal with the same kind of operations, that is the loading and unloading of goods, but both of these systems differ in their approach and capabilities. Listed below are some of the key differences between them both:
1) Flexibility
Robotic palletizers are highly flexible and adopt the usage of a wide range of products without needing any changes to its pallet configurations. Conventional palletizers, on the other hand, are suited to satisfy the specific need of a specific product and pallet size. In case a different product is being palletized, the system has to be manually adjusted.
2) Speed
Robotic palletizers are faster and can essentially deal with higher volumes of products, since they can operate without any breaks or hindrances. Conventional palletizers require some downtime for manual adjustments, hence the reduction in speed.
3) Labour Costs
There is a drastic reduction in labour costs for the company when robotic palletizers are used, since these machines can operate without any manual intervention. In the case of conventional palletizers, there is a necessity for one or more manual labourers since these machines require manual adjustments. This also creates room for error, which is completely eliminated in the case of robotic palletizers.
4) Investment
Robotic palletizers require higher initial cost for set up since the robots and other necessary equipment have to be procured. But when compared to the return on investment these machines provide in terms of reduced labour costs, and increased speed & flexibility, this is a small price to pay.
5) Space
Robotic palletizers take up less space and can be placed in tight spaces. This means it also takes up a smaller footprint. On the other hand, conventional palletizers have a larger footprint and are less flexible due to their fixed configuration.
Benefits of Robotic Palletizers
Automated palletizing process have many advantages, some of these are listed below:
1) Improved Safety
As businesses advance in the direction of speedy deliveries and constantly battle the need to fulfil requirements on time, palletizers are highly beneficial in adhering to deadlines. Workers in a warehouse usually tire easily owing to repeating the same motions over and over again, and are also easily prone to injury due to this. Palletizers protect employees from risk by automating the process and also operating without breaks to achieve maximum efficiency.
2) Reduction in Errors
Palletizing is a highly repetitive task that is best suited for a robot. When manual labour is involved in this, there is confusion & chaos involved sometimes. But machines are more efficient and adept at handling the said SKUs without any errors. The advanced gripping technology in robotic palletizers are suited for different product types without any requirement for adjustments.
3) Production on Time
Robots are faster and more reliable than their human counterparts, they can work for 24 hours without any breaks. With machines like palletizers, it is possible to predict the exact turnaround time. As we adapt and move towards a work culture that is more in line with concepts like Just-in-time Production and Lean Manufacturing, robots seem like the best solution for a fast & secure future.
Overall, robotic palletizers are an important addition to the modern industrial landscape. These machines are able to work at greater speeds than their traditional counterparts - conventional palletizers. Robotic palletizers achieve greater efficiency, and when this is coupled with its ability to handle a wide range of products without any manual adjustments, the higher amount of initial investment is only a minor disadvantage. As technology advances, robotic palletizers will see more advancements to its features and capabilities. The research on this has already started since more and more businesses are adopting robotic palletizers.
At SJK Innovations we develop advanced and innovative solutions under the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. We develop and manufacture discrete material handling solutions that are pioneering in different industries like agricultural-tech, aviation, and warehousing. All our solutions require minimal human intervention and are highly customizable to suit industry-specific requirements.
