Robots vs. rails: palletizing approaches compared

At Levosil, two Motoman arms from Yaskawa demonstrate the ease and effectiveness of robot solutions

Production facilities are an indispensable asset for a company's competitiveness. Their functionality determines the ability to respond to market demands, support innovation, increase resilience to external events and materialize possible cost optimization margins. Moved by this awareness, Levosil Spa pays extreme attention to updating its systems. As in the case of the new palletizing system, implemented with the technical support of Gbtech and the use of two Motoman Yaskawa palletizing robots.

Specialists in active packaging production

"You know those little sachets you find in handbags or shoes to keep moisture in check? Levosil Spa specializes precisely in the production of these kinds of items: dehydrating pouches and moisture indicators." With these words Francesco Furiozzi, Assistant Executive Director and Sales of Levosil, introduces the company.

Thanks to the considerable know-how accumulated since its founding in 1964, in the company's research and development laboratory in Chiusa di San Michele (TO), ad hoc solutions are constantly being developed for the applications required by the market.

The fields of use of these bags are in fact very numerous and diverse, and each has its own peculiarities. Each field of application therefore sees a dedicated range of products, differing in composition - based on silica gel (indicator or white), dehydrating clay, molecular sieves (4a), or mix of dehydrators - but also in shape and size: in fact, they range from small bags for electronics to large the 2 kg bags for the protection of goods transported in containers.

применения
Palletizing

Renew to be competitive

Continuous upgrading of production facilities and development of new products in concert with customers have been the goals pursued over the years and have enabled Levosil to establish itself as one of Europe's leading manufacturers in the field of moisture protective packaging. In nearly 60 years of business, the company has seen the continual introduction of new technologies and new enclosures. In every case, however, these tend to be poor products with a low unit cost. This is why Levosil has always considered it essential to focus on increasing production efficiency and effectiveness as a competitive tool.

"We have always been very focused on optimizing production, but today this issue is absolutely a priority for us. Raw materials have skyrocketed-some have experienced list price increases of up to 200 percent-so being able to go in and make the production process more efficient can really create a major advantage commercially," Furiozzi explains. "Fortunately, careful economic-financial management and remarkable decision-making responsiveness allow us to quickly implement production innovations and smoothly address useful investments to be more competitive in the market."

Coming under the magnifying glass as no longer aligned with the company's production efficiency needs has recently been the palletizing system. Until recently, this activity was carried out using two palletizers on rails.

"Why did we decide to take action on the palletizing system? A box of dehydrating bags comes to think as much as 20 kilograms, so it goes without saying that a person cannot set about palletizing dozens of boxes a day by hand," comments Furiozzi. "It would be too much wear and tear. And also inefficient. With this solution we were able to shorten production time as much as possible and create savings, while safeguarding the health of our employees."