Selpak principle Gerhard Schubert of Germany has long pioneered the use of robotics in packaging.
He is currently expanding the use of packaging machines to develop a unique solution for end of line packaging in the beverage industry which offers real flexibility.
“As demand grows for ever more flexible packaging machines, robots and robot technology enjoy increasing use in packaging applications,” Schubert says.
“There is clear evidence to show that flexibility in packaging equipment is created by cutting back the number of mechanisms, shifting functions increasingly to the machine software, and consistently assigning product-specific operations to be performed by exchangeable tools.”
This concept is the basis for the design of the Schubert TLM packaging machines which have taken the market by storm since 2002.
Schubert technology is used across a range of industries in Australia and New Zealand including food, confectionary, healthcare, beverage, pet food, and tobacco to mentioned a few.
“Essentially any product which needs to picked and loaded, can be best handled on Schubert equipment,” Schubert says.
“Whether this involves case erecting, forming or denesting, loading into case or trays or other machines such as flow wrappers or thermoformers and closing, for Schubert, the key lies in able to successfully handle the product and the flexibility with which its able to do this.”
Gerhard Schubert started his career as an apprentice for a company now known as Bosch. After finishing his training as a young adult, he had a vision of creating mechanical packaging machines.
“The first machine I built was a case erector almost 44 years ago,” he recalls. “Today Schubert employs approximately 850 people, but is still a family owned and operated company with my two sons also involved.”
Selpak has represented Schubert in Australia and New Zealand for almost 25 years. Schubert’s intention is to continue the company’s growth.
“I want Selpak to be best known for its excellence in every aspect of its business,” he says. “Selpak hopes to attract and make new contacts at this year’s AUSPACK, however we also endevour to exhibit cutting edge technology which is relatively new to this part of the world."
At AUSPAK 2009, Selpak will feature Schubert’s robotic packaging machine for the beverage industry, with a dedicated stand.
This solution, conceived by Schubert, can handle both cans and bottles of different diameters at speeds of up to 1,000 parts per minute.
Change-overs between the various formats are rapid and repeatable. “The key benefit of this system is its flexibility without compromising efficiency or the final result,” Schubert says.
“Essentially the Schubert machine is able to pack bottles into a range of different configurations on the same machine. In the past this was only possible using multiple machines taking up large amounts of real estate.”
Applications include bottles or cans into sleeves or baskets, sleeves into shipper or trays and individual bottles or cans into shippers, trays or crates.
"While the environment has been sidelined in the national debate for the time being due to the current financial crisis, it remains as the driver for more innovative ways to reduce the layers of packaging and its impact on the environment,” Gerard Schubert says.
“Our new flexible packaging technology also aims to decrease unit cost, bringing not only increased margins for manufacturers but also benefits for the consumer.”
“We believe the Schubert solution provides these and many other benefits over the more traditional solutions utilised in the industry.”
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