Robots on hand at Thorntons

Flexibility and speed are the main benefits of a new Schubert automated packaging line chosen by confectionery maker Thorntons to pack a wide variety of its assorted chocolates.

The system packs up to 73 trays a minute 24 Flexibility and speed are the main benefits of a new Schubert automated packaging line chosen by confectionery maker Thorntons to pack a wide variety of its assorted chocolates.

The system packs up to 73 trays a minute 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is specially designed to handle a large range of carton sizes from 100g up to 685g.

Up to 20 chocolate varieties can be accommodated on the line which has 20 product in-feed conveyor belts and 10 high-performance robotic arms that can do 110 picks a minute.

Trays are transported by a chain conveyor to a series of filling machines. The chocolates are located via Schubert's vision system and then packed by robots.

Thorntons previously packed by hand, which required three manual lines to produce the equivalent quantity now achieved by the Schubert equipment.

Contact: Schubert
Tel: 01676 525825