While more customers wish to automate the palletising function within their production facilities, they are often unable to provide space for such a system.
In today’s current economic conditions customers are also becoming more focussed on the return on investment achieved by their capital equipment purchases.
As a result, customers are seeking quality equipment with excellent performance specifications and a predictable commissioning timeline, all at a reasonable price.
JMP has risen to this challenge by developing the CPC Series Palletiser, a cleverly designed and cost-effective robotic palletising solution.
The most noticeable feature of the CPC Palletiser is the skid configuration where a Kawasaki industrial robot, a pallet magazine and pallet conveyors are attached to the main support frame.
Prior to delivery to site the robot can be docked in a position ready for transport, while the pallet conveyors are ‘folded’ up around the pallet magazine and robot.
The benefits of this configuration are tremendous, according to JMP managing director Michael Thornton.
"The design features of this palletiser significantly reduce installation time and ultimately reduce costs," he says. "The system is completely wired and tested in our factory, the palletiser simply folds-up and slides neatly into a single 20ft shipping container."
"A single JMP engineer can attend site and install the equipment in around 4 hours, and there is no need for additional trades expertise on site," he adds.
Thornton says additional benefits can be realised when installing such a system, such as minimised downtime in production.
"We can get in and out the customer's factory rather quickly, therefore having less impact on their production," he points out.
Engineering and Robotics Manager at JMP, Keith Mainland, explains that minimal robot programming is required to commission the system at a customer's facility.
In fact, because the pallet conveyor positions are known, all the layer pattern positions and orientations are unchanged after factory testing.
"The only robot programming we need to change when commissioning the system is the pickup point, and this can be done through the Robot pendant," he says.
Mainland says engineers installing the system can simply move the gripper to the appropriate position, then nominate this location as the pickup point.
"JMP have applied some other great ideas to the palletiser, such as integration of the robot controller into the frame, and a fencing system that also folds-up ready for transport," he says.
"The wiring for the light curtains is contained within the base frame and the opposite light curtains is only reflective, hence there is no wiring required on site, and no unsightly cable trays or conduits spreading out to the light curtains."
The CPC palletising system can be supplied in two different configurations, with either one or two integrated pallet chain conveyors.
The pallet conveyor(s) can be supplied in a traditional raised format suitable for integration with a downstream stretch wrapper, or in low profile format suitable for use with manually operated fork jacks.
JMP can also provide grippers to handle any product whether it is cartons, shrink trays, bags, containers, drums or pails.
The robot is even capable of around 18 cycles per minute, depending on the product being handled, which means that cartons can be palletised at rates in the vicinity of 35 cartons per minute.
Both hire and lease options are available to JMP customers. They can now trial the equipment in their factory with the option of buying the equipment at the end of the lease.
"The CPC Series Palletiser is an excellent choice in robotic palletising," Michael thornton enthuses.
"It's cost effective and space saving, and is ideal for customers looking for a risk free installation. Finally, it's a safe return on investment, and with JMP’s hire or lease options, it become even easier for customers to automate their palletising functions."