The Advantages Of Robotic Palletizers Compared To Conventional Layer Palletizers

By ESS Technologies, Inc.

Palletizing has evolved since the days when manual stacking presented the only solution. Today low infeed and high infeed layer palletizers can be specified to automate the process, reducing back injuries and increasing speed and efficiency. Since the 1990's robotic palletizers have begun to replace traditional layer palletizers as the cost of robotics technology has decreased substantially. At the same time, retailers looking to streamline operations and reduce inventory have increased their demands for custom-mixed pallet loads, creating a need for a flexible palletizing solution.

Both layer palletizers and robotic palletizers find wide application in end-of-line packaging applications. The initial equipment cost for a single conventional vs. robotic palletizer can be comparable for the most basic system, and the system footprint is similar, although robotic palletizers typically require less floor space. However, as retailer demands for multi-SKU pallet loads increase and manufacturers continue to think in terms of sustainable packaging and "lean-and-clean" processes and facilities, the advantages of robotic palletizers make them ideal for most palletizing applications.