It seems that automation is touching every part of our lives. Today we live in homes where automation helps with mundane tasks such as keeping our floors clean and even reminding us that the fridge needs filling. But nowhere have the benefits of automation been felt more acutely than in manufacturing, and in one area in particular, the storage and handling of pallets. The robot palletiser has simply revolutionised how goods are stored and despatched – and in so doing have had a direct impact on the profitability of many manufacturing concerns.
Robot palletisers have enabled manufacturing concerns to handle pallets in a more efficient way and this has had a direct impact on the cost of human resources. Whereas traditionally the handling of pallets was labour intensive today robots have reduced the need for multiple employees in handling pallets, and this has had several knock on effects.
The primary effect has been to cut down on the cost of human resources, however, the cost reduction are not only as a result of decreasing the employee count.
Handling pallets can subject employees to physical dangers – and these dangers are not only the result of handling large and bulky goods. There is also the fact that those working with pallets are often working long hours and repetitive strain injuries are common. These injuries can result in a slowing of the processing of pallets – and an increase in the costs associated with injuries to employees. They may necessitate the temporary replacement of skilled labour and, in extreme cases can open the company up to the threat of litigation.
But there is another reason that the use of robot palletisers is revolutionising business – and this is efficiency. Robots are highly efficient. They are ideal for repetitive tasks and they simply do not need downtime. In the modern age of ‘just in time’ operations the ability to handle pallets on a 24-hour basis can mean the difference between the success of a business and its failure.
The fact that robot palletisers are today easier than ever before to program means that they can handle a variety of goods. From boxes to bags. They are incredibly versatile. They are also able to be programmed to cope with changing circumstances as the business adapts to changing market demands. They can stack to preset heights and in a floorplan that maximises productivity. This in turn has a direct influence on the bottom line of the business. It can lead to greater throughput, meaning that the business can onboard more customers.
This has a direct impact on operating capital. Greater efficiency means that the business can invest more in growing its operation – or improving the quality of the products that it offers customers.
It is readily apparent that robot palletiser offer an exceptional return on investment. In the hyper-competitive business environment of the 21st century those companies that do not invest in the latest technology are at a distinct compeititve advantage – and robot pallet handling equipment continues to evolve. Business must take advantage of that continued evolution.