Robots put some pace into packaging Cornish pasties

Ginsters has transformed the packing of its top-selling Cornish pasties and other savoury products with a high-speed automated robotic packaging machine from Schubert.

The Cornwall company, part of Samworth Brothers, has been so impressed with the versatile system that it has already ordered a second line for its busy factory in Callington.

The system was specially designed by IPS, Schubert's specialist automated packaging division, to pack a wide variety of Ginsters' chilled savoury products, such as Cornish pasties, bakes, slices and sausage rolls, at the rate of up to 400 a minute.

Empty display trays are loaded on to a conveyor by a Schubert TLM-F2 robot which removes them from a storage station with a special swivelling tool. Simultaneously, products are fed into the system from an upstream machine and scanned to check for correct shape and surface decoration. Any faulty goods are rejected at the end of the product conveyor.

A Schubert TLM-F44 robot equipped with a vacuum gripper tool picks and places products into the display trays, which are then transported out of the line in preparation for the next stage of the packaging operation.

The packaging system has enabled Ginsters to improve efficiency and eliminate costly, non value-added double-handling of products.

Packing staff have moved to other more skilled positions within the business.

Contact: Schubert; Tel: 01676 525825