Ever since a Czech playwright coined the term 85 years ago, robots have offered intriguing automation possibilities. Now they're asserting themselves in food plants, with articulated-arm units for
palletizing leading the way.
Fortunately, the situation is changing, led by articulated-arm robots for case packing, palletizing, depalletizing and other material-handling applications. The shift is due in part to a manufacturing environment where menial jobs are hard to fill and lean manufacturing encourages the use of machines for non-value added jobs. Another factor is the maturation of robotics technology and advances in complementary technologies. According to a recent survey by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, 35 percent of manufacturers plan to purchase robots this year, with palletizing robots the most likely application.