The attributes of automation on a packaging line are well known with the larger Fortune 500 food and consumer goods manufacturers. But what is promising to see is that many smaller companies are also catching on to how automation can assist in their end-of-line operations.
Many of our queries in the past several months have been coming from companies looking to upgrade their existing hand-packing stations with robotic automation. The nature of many of these leads are likely rooted in curiosity than anything else. That is because they are feeling the pinch of a tightened labor market.
Some of these companies have been packing cases and building pallets by hand for years, and it has suited them well. That is because their production rate tended to be on the slower side, allowing for manual operations to handle the workflow.
But times have changed, and staffing issues continue to be a challenge across the manufacturing sector. Companies, more often now, are contacting us looking to see if automation can make sense for them … and the answer almost always is yes.
The beauty about installing an automated case packer with a robotic palletizer is that it reduces the number of employees that were previously staffing your hand-packing lines. Those folks can be redirected to more critical positions within your company, leaving the more monotonous packing and palletizing tasks to your new automated system.
Furthermore, automation brings newfound flexibility to your operations. As your business grows, production may need to increase. An automated system with robotics can easily keep pace with your growth; it will not require additional staffing as would a hand-packing line.
Never think you are too small at add automation to your end-of-line operations. A well-designed system not only reduces labor but sets you up well for future growth.
Josh Goulet is an Account Manager at Brenton (https://www.brentonengineering.com/). He can be reached at Josh.Goulet@promachbuilt.com