Palletization robot essentials: What can they do? 

Not all robots for palletizing are made equal. First, you’ll need to consider the types of palletization tasks a robot can perform and the necessary end-effectors. The major options are:

• Gantry robots: These floor-mounted robots have a horizontal beam that moves left to right over the pallet. They’re ideal for stacking uniform products onto pallets but require a custom end-effector for each product.
• Articulated arm robots: With multiple joints like a human arm, these versatile robots can stack a variety of products. They may use vacuum cups, grippers, or clamping mechanisms to pick up products. Articulated arms provide flexibility but typically have a shorter reach than Gantry robots.
• SCARA robots: Short-arm robots with a circular range of motion, SCARAs are compact, fast, and precise. They’re efficient at high-speed palletizing of light products. SCARAs usually use grippers or vacuum cups.
• Parallel robots: Featuring multiple arms connected to a common base, Parallel robots are the fastest option but are complex and expensive. They’re often used for very high-volume palletizing.

Things to keep in mind

Here are five additional items to consider when choosing a Palletizing robot: 

• Payload and reach: Choose a robot that can handle your product weights and sizes.
• Speed and precision: What’s your production volume, and how quickly do you need to place products?
• Programming and integration: Take a moment to consider how complex the robot will be to program and integrate into your line. Some are easier to set up than others.
• Cost: Palletization robots range from just under $30,000 to $500,000+ for large, high-speed systems for major industrial facilities. Remember to also factor in the long-term cost of ownership.
• Leading suppliers: Major Palletizing robot makers include ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, FANUC, and Kawasaki. Compare specs and prices to find the best fit for your needs.

‍

Essential considerations when choosing a Palletizing robot

Before you go online to buy a robot for palletization, make sure to give these considerations some thought: 

Type of palletizing

Do you need a robot to handle case palletizing, bag palletizing, or both? Case palletizers typically handle heavier, rigid products, while bag palletizers handle lighter, flexible items. Some robots can do either, but they may require different end-effectors for each task.

Payload and reach

How much weight do your products have, and how high do you need to stack them? Palletizing robots come in different payload capacities and vertical reaches to handle varying needs. Any robot you consider should be able to lift and stack your heaviest products to your required pallet height.

Speed and accuracy

Are high speeds or precise placement more important for your application? Some Palletizing robots excel at high throughput, and others focus on meticulous stacking and orientation. Consider your production volumes and how critical product orientation is to determine the right balance of speed and accuracy.

Environment

Do you need a robot that can operate in a cold room, handle washdown, or work side-by-side with humans? Standard robots can work in many general manufacturing settings, but extraordinarily specialized robots are also available. Always choose a robot that can work in the specific conditions of your factory or facilities. 

Cost

As we said above, a good Palletizing robot can vary wildly in price (from under $30,000 to over $500,000) depending on its size, speed, and capabilities. Even if the price tag is hefty, don't sacrifice essential requirements like payload, reach, or environment ratings to save a few bucks. A mismatched robot will lose you money in the long run.

With so many options, selecting a Palletizing robot can be disorienting. But by determining your precise needs and understanding the types of robots available, you can find an automation solution to improve your palletizing productivity.

Who are the top Palletizing robot manufacturers?

The major players in palletization robotics are well-known robotic companies that also produce solutions for other applications. Their experience in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation provides a solid foundation for developing high-quality Palletizing robots.

FANUC

A Japanese robotics pioneer, FANUC offers a range of Palletizing robots and software to handle payloads of up to 2,500 kg. Their Palletizing robots use machine learning and 3D vision systems for mixed palletizing and depalletizing. FANUC robots are a popular, trusted choice for palletizing solutions.

ABB

ABB is a Swiss leader in Industrial robotics and also produces Palletizing robots. Their IRB series includes models for heavy-duty and high-speed palletizing. ABB's RobotStudio simulation software lets you program and test pallet patterns offline. ABB also offers their PickMaster 3D vision system and machine learning for mixed palletizing.

KUKA

KUKA is the #1 German specialist in robotic automation, including palletizing solutions. Their KR QUANTEC series includes high-payload models for demanding palletizing applications. KUKA's Robot Sensor Interface allows their robots to work with various end-effectors and machine vision systems for mixed palletizing. Their 25 years of experience providing palletizing solutions make them a safe bet.

Yaskawa

Yaskawa Motoman is a Japanese industrial robot specialist, including Palletizing robots. Their high-speed, space-saving robots can handle payloads up to 1,500 kg. Yaskawa offers 2D and 3D vision systems and iRVision machine learning software for mixed palletizing applications. Yaskawa Motoman has proven its reliability and expertise with over 400,000 robots installed.

Choosing from these top manufacturers helps ensure a high-quality, dependable palletizing robotics solution for your needs. Their experience, advanced technologies, and range of robot models can handle any palletizing challenge.

‍

Conclusion

All right, so now you know the basics and have some good Palletizing robot options to check out. First, you need to assess your needs and priorities to determine what is the right fit for you:

• What products do you handle? 
• What’s your required throughput and accuracy? 
• What is your available floor space? 
• And, lastly, what’s your budget? 

Always assess your specific needs and priorities before getting out your credit card. Once you’ve narrowed them down, remember to get quotes from different suppliers and get comfortable with asking plenty of questions. A good robot for palletizing should become a seamless part of your operations and last for many years. 

With the variety of high-quality robots available today at lower costs, automating your palletizing is an investment that will pay off through increased productivity, reduced waste, and happier workers. 

The question is not if, but when you choose to take your game to the next level. 

‍

Next steps

Interested in investing in a Palletizing robot to skyrocket productivity? RO1 by Standard Bots is the best choice for small-scale startups and established industrial giants. 

• Cost-effective: RO1 is the leading robotic arm in its class, delivering even more value at half the price of the competition. 
• Fast & strong: RO1 beats out the competition in speed and accuracy despite having the highest payload capacity in its class at 18 kg.
• Safe: RO1 has built-in safety sensors and collision detection for safe, reliable operation on your shop floor.

Talk to our solutions team now to set up a free, 30-day onsite trial and receive specialized advice on everything you need to deploy RO1.