Loading robot proves a cracker for United Biscuits

United Biscuits’ Aintree factory has improved production efficiency and reduced labour costs in the packaging of its Jacob’s Cheddars cheese biscuits, thanks to the introduction of a two-axis, top loading robot from Sewtec Automation.

The robot transfers packs into cases of 28 (four layers of seven) from a two-lane in-feed conveyor at a speed of 180 packs a minute; a task that was previously carried out manually by a team of four.

Using a vacuum head, the robot picks up 14 packs at a time and then configures the packs into two rows of seven, to pack two cases simultaneously. The cases are then conveyed to a case taper and despatched.

The system is controlled using an Allen Bradley Control Logix programmable logic controller system, installed and configured by Sewtec and incorporating an Allen-Bradley human machine interface.

Since being commissioned, product throughput on the line has risen by 15%, and it has relieved personnel from a repetitive and laborious task.

Contact: Sewtec Automation, Tel: 01924 494 047