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...

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

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