Robotic Palletizing of Custom Products

Premier Automation provided a custom robotic palletizing solution for a local manufacturer of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic products. This customer was experiencing an increase in demand for fiberglass panels used as linings for trailers and delivery vans, so automating more of the process with robots was a necessary next step. This entire line is dedicated un-coiling flat strips of the thermoplastic, shearing them to desired length, and forming a custom edge profile with a press, and Premier’s palletizing solution was added to the end of the production line.

Design constraints:

• Accurately locate parts on an infeed table for the robot to pick
• Integrate the robot and inspection equipment with the rest of the production line
• Allow flexibility for multiple part width’s and stacking patterns based on part geometry
• Very tight space constraints at the end of the line for the robotic cell

Premier worked closely with the customer to come up with the most cost-effective solution for this project. Premier’s scope was limited to providing the robot, tooling, guarding, and integration services for this section of the production line. The customer took ownership of providing the conveyors and any additional peripherals for the system.

Challenges during the development and integration of this system included keeping the stacks straight and stable as they got near the max height of the pallet. Completed pallets would have parts stacked up to 42” high. Due to the part geometry, the stacks tended to lean one direction and make aligning the geometry of each part much more difficult.

Premier automation delivered a custom palletizing solution that meets the customer’s objectives of consistent palletizing, reduced operator interaction, and improved in-line process inspection.