September 2024 Manufacturing Technology Orders jump as IMTS returns to Chicago
Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $450.6 million in September 2024. These orders for metalworking machinery increased 24% from August 2024 and increased 14.6% over September 2023 orders. Year-to-date orders reached $3.35 billion, a decline of 7.7% compared to the first three quarters of 2023. Orders in September 2024 were at the highest level of the year and 5.1% above an average September. While this may be a good sign for an industry looking to find a bottom after nearly three years of decline, the optimism comes with a major caveat: orders were 9.1% lower than in an average IMTS September. Orders tend to peak for the year in September of even years, when IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the largest manufacturing trade show in the Western Hemisphere, is held in Chicago. However, this year’s lower-than-average order level may be due to many show attendees planning for longer investment timelines. Contract machine shops, the largest customer segment for manufacturing technology orders, increased their orders to the highest level since March 2023. These job shops are a major bellwether for the wider industry, as sudden demand from this segment indicates that OEMs are increasing orders from them to meet additional capacity needs. If this demand remains elevated, it will typically lead to later investments across customer industries. The aerospace sector pulled back orders by nearly a third from August 2023. This is no surprise because the Boeing machinist strike caused major disruptions to the industry’s output beginning in the latter half of September 2024. Since the strike lasted for the entirety of October 2024, we can expect a similar drop-off in orders in next month’s report. New orders from airlines continued to roll in throughout the strike, and with the strike ending in November, the industry is positioned to finish the year with additional investments should capacity utilization quickly return to its pre-strike level. Orders from the automotive sector have lagged for most of 2024. This changed in September when manufacturers of automotive transmissions increased orders to their highest level since August 2023. This investment is not surprising, as automakers have been reassessing their outlook for the electric vehicle market throughout much of the year. Throughout most of 2024, manufacturers hesitated to invest in manufacturing technology due to concerns over heightened interest rates and November’s U.S. presidential election. In September, the Federal Reserve cut rates after a year of its “higher for longer” monetary strategy to reduce inflation. We may not see the effects of this development until the October 2024 data is released, and the effects of a further rate cut and the effects of the presidential election may not be seen until the November data is released. While these political and economic events may prove consequential to buying decisions, another major factor that could spur additional investment in the remaining few months of 2024 is the next step in the phase-out of the bonus depreciation allowance from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. While investments in capital equipment are subject to 60% additional depreciation in 2024, that bonus will decrease to 40% in 2025. As the gap in orders between 2023 and 2024 has narrowed over the last two months, the reduction in headwinds puts the manufacturing technology industry in a position to end the year strong.
Cimcorp appointed Pekka Natri as Head of Region
With nearly 30 years of experience leading diverse international teams, Natri will streamline all North American operations and align regional goals with global strategy Cimcorp has announced the appointment of Pekka Natri to Head of Region for North America. Natri has been a key member of the Cimcorp team since 2018, formerly serving as Head of Region for SEAP and India. With a successful track record of establishing and growing local entities for international businesses, Natri will now be responsible for streamlining all North American operations, driving collaboration with partners, and aligning regional goals with Cimcorp Group’s global strategy. “I am thrilled to take on this new opportunity to strengthen Cimcorp’s position as a leader in the North American market,” said Natri. “As head of region, my goal is to make an immediate, positive impact for customers and employees today, as well as to set the groundwork for ultimately shaping the future of automation in our core sectors—grocery retail and tire manufacturing.” With a background in biotechnical engineering and nearly 30 years of experience in the technology space, Natri has led teams in many different parts of the world, including China, India, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Finland. His breadth of expertise spans business development, management, sales, solution development, and project delivery, and he has successfully implemented strategic growth plans for complex international businesses at the market area level and on a global scale. After joining Cimcorp in 2018, Natri spearheaded the company’s efforts to expand its presence and customer service capabilities in India. Nartri established a new office in Chennai, where he managed everything from location selection to recruitment and training. In 2023, Natri led the startup of a new office in Sydney, Australia, helping Cimcorp achieve a stronger position in the Australian market. In his new role, Natri will focus on aligning North American teams, functions, and partners to best serve customers locally while also supporting global growth. “Through working in various countries with diverse teams, I’ve developed a deep understanding and appreciation of different perspectives and ways of thinking. As a manager, I give people the freedom to approach ideas and issues in new ways—which enables our team to collaborate and solve challenges with open minds,” said Natri. “I’ve also gained the ability to see things from a regional perspective, without missing the big picture. I’ve been on both sides of the coin, working with employees at local sites and with executives at company headquarters. This will help me not only improve North American operations, but also support our company’s overall strategy.” As an experienced leader, Natri prioritizes building a workplace based on trust, transparency, and open communication. He is a major proponent of employee development and will ensure Cimcorp supports its staff in exploring ongoing educational and career opportunities. Natri said, “I believe great leadership is based on transparency, mutual trust, and setting clear targets. I want to create an open environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas. Working as a team, we can create synergies and deliver greater value than what we could achieve alone. My role in it all is to motivate employees to focus on the right goals, ensuring that they succeed as individuals and that we succeed as a company.”
Episode 534: Mastering Analytics in logistics with Milo’s Tea Company
Today’s episode of The New Warehouse Podcast dives into the topic of analytics in logistics with Derek Camp, Senior Manager of Operational Analytics at Milo’s Tea Company. We cover the fascinating intersection of analytics and operations within the logistics industry, highlighting how Milo’s Tea leverages data to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. Derek shares his unique journey in the field and the innovative strategies employed at Milo’s Tea to drive success. From Replenishment to Analytics Derek Camp’s career at Milo’s began in replenishment, evolving over 11 years through roles increasingly focused on analytics. Initially managing replenishment for the company’s largest customer, Derek transitioned into sales analytics and operations. “I had never really worked in an analytics job… but reading the job description, I thought I could do a good job with it,” Derek explains. His story illustrates the power of adaptability and growth within a logistics role, emphasizing the impact of analytics across different company operations. Operational Analytics at Milo’s Tea At Milo’s Tea, operational analytics isn’t just about data collection; it’s about driving real change and efficiency across various departments. Derek discusses key metrics such as OTIF (On-Time In-Full) and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), which are crucial for assessing and enhancing production and logistics efficiency. “The higher OEE you have, the more product you can make in less time,” he notes, underlining the direct correlation between analytical insights and operational success. Analytics in Logistics: Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Milo’s Tea utilizes a strategic array of KPIs within its logistics and production operations. Derek explains how specific KPIs like Consumer Complaints Per Million (CCPM), On Time In Full (OTIF), and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) play a crucial role in their operations. Consumer Complaints Per Million (CCPM): Assesses the number of consumer complaints per million units sold. “CCPM is a quality metric that tells you how often our consumers call in with complaints about our product, whether it’s taste or, you know, packaging or whatever.” On Time In Full (OTIF): measures the percentage of deliveries that are both on time and complete, reflecting the effectiveness of the logistics operations. “OTIF is the overarching customer service metric for us. That’s what our customers look at first when you talk to them in a line review. And if your OTIF is high, then it starts the conversation off in a good way.” Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): is a standard for measuring manufacturing productivity by comparing the actual output against the potential output if operations were optimal. “In production, you know, and this sort of falls into CI and production, but when we look at OEE, that is a metric that tells you how efficient you’re running your plant. And so, if you, the higher OEE you have, the more product you can make, and less time and the lower OEE you have, you’re not being efficient in making your product.” Key Takeaways on Analytics in Logistics Embracing change and new opportunities can lead to significant career advancements in logistics and operations. Key performance metrics like OTIF and OEE are integral in measuring and improving operational efficiency. Effective analytics requires a blend of accurate data, comprehensive understanding, and strategic application to foster operational success. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 534: Mastering Analytics in Logistics with Milo’s Tea Company
Laner Conveyor for bottle and can variety case pack
Multiple lanes, multiple flavors. Wow. Multi-Conveyor recently built a series of stainless steel-constructed conveyors to transport cans or bottles to feed a case packer. In this embedded video, we focus on the manual loading of flavor varieties that transport through an adjustable multi-laner to create multi-flavor beverage case packs. An initial conveyor (not shown) will assist the operators to load the already filled and labeled bottles or cans onto tables of three operator positions each. Multi-Conveyor employees demonstrate how operators feed the product from operator positions onto the multi-lane conveyor. Each operator loading station is responsible for a specific flavor or variety of product. The individual products travel through 6 separate lanes with adjustable guide rails up to nearly 40 feet of multi-lane travel, coming together at a common discharge end to feed the case packer The lanes combine product making a now mixed variety of can or bottle favors that create a multi-flavor case pack. Of course, this technology can also transport individual flavors as required. Lane conveyors are often fed by diverts and can be used as a means of accumulation to assist downstream processes. Laners can be equipped with a variety of devices including gates, guides, fishtails and sweeps that can be controlled manually or fully automated with programmable logic controls or PLC.
Swisslog opens new office in Canada to support growth opportunities in the region
Located in Mississauga, Ontario, the new Swisslog office is the latest step in the company’s accelerated growth in the Americas region. In June, Swisslog opened a new Americas region headquarters in Atlanta. Over the past year, the company has also strengthened its sales and execution teams to support the Canadian market. “Canada’s supply chain continues to see strong growth, partly driven by an increase in imports and exports and the private sector’s commitment to increase overall supply chain efficiency,” said Sean Wallingford, president and CEO of Swisslog Logistics, Inc. “The new office will help us continue to provide automation solutions that deliver even greater support for customers, while also bringing further innovation to the region with operational efficiency.” Swisslog’s entire portfolio of automation solutions and software is available in the Canadian market, with special focus on general merchandise, food and beverage, industrial manufacturing, electronics and healthcare industries. This portfolio features fully automated end-to-end integrated solutions, including ASRS applications for unit loads and eaches, all orchestrated by Swisslog’s intelligent SynQ software. Swisslog automation experts work closely with customers to determine which solution best fits their operational needs and business objectives. Swisslog also continues to grow its 24/7 customer support network available to its North American customers. This includes over 50 field resources and over 100 full-time help desk resources, as well as an expanding group of service technicians strategically located across the region to help ensure the automation solutions help customers meet their business objectives. The company will be exhibiting at this year’s Advanced Design & Manufacturing Expo (November 13-14) at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Québec. Show attendees can visit the Swisslog booth (#1815) to experience the latest advancements in state-of-the-art automation solutions for storage and retrieval of pallets, cases, and totes. With more than 2,500 installations of automation solutions around the globe, Swisslog has invaluable experience in multiple flexible, scalable, and modular automation technologies. The company is also one of the leading integrators of the AutoStore system, with more than 400 AutoStore projects in over 25 countries.
Omnicon exhibits at 2024 Pack Expo and Automation Fair
Omnicon has expanded its U.S. presence by establishing operations across several states, allowing for closer client support in the region. The company will showcase its expertise at two major industry events: Pack Expo in Chicago, Illinois, from November 3-6, 2024 at booth #LL10514, and Automation Fair in Anaheim, California, from November 18-21, 2024 at booth #1014. Omnicon has announced the expansion of its U.S. presence with new operations based in Houston, Texas, adding to the company’s established presence across the nation. With COO Daniel Gomez now located in Houston, this strategic move allows Omnicon to provide in-person support to clients across the region. “We are thrilled about our expansion within the U.S., a move that reflects our commitment to staying connected with our clients nationwide and ensuring we can offer more responsive support,” said Daniel Gomez, COO of Omnicon. “With local resources in place, we’re able to provide faster, dedicated service to meet the needs of each customer across the country.” In addition to expanding its U.S. footprint, Omnicon will showcase its expertise at two major industry events: Pack Expo, taking place November 3-6, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois, and Automation Fair, from November 18-21, 2024 in Anaheim, California. “Omnicon’s expansion of our presence in the U.S., along with our involvement in these major industry events, highlights our ongoing commitment to staying close to our customers and leading the way in industry innovation,” said Eduardo Acosta, CEO of Omnicon. “By strengthening our presence in the U.S. and taking part in key gatherings like Automation Fair and Pack Expo, we’re not only ensuring that we’re at the forefront of the latest tech developments but also reinforcing our partnerships.” At Pack Expo booth #LL10514, Omnicon will showcase its smart manufacturing solutions, including workflow orchestration, OEE performance monitoring, and MOM integration. Attendees can explore how Omnicon’s advanced automation technologies are helping manufacturers optimize production efficiency and streamline operations. Pack Expo, hosted by The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), is the largest packaging and processing show in the U.S., featuring over 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers presenting the latest innovations in the industry. Omnicon, recently recognized again as one of Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies, will also be exhibiting at booth #1014 during Rockwell Automation’s Automation Fair. Known for its focus on industrial automation and digital transformation, Omnicon will showcase innovations tailored for the energy industry, highlighting solutions designed to enhance efficiency and connectivity. In a presentation during Automation Fair, in Room 201C of the Anaheim Convention Center, COO Daniel Gomez will join energy industry leader Celsia to present a success case in industrial automation and smart manufacturing. The session, titled “Pioneering Hydroelectric Industrial Automation and Remote Supervisory Revolution,” will offer insights into advanced applications of automation in the energy sector. The presentation will take place on November 20th, at 1pm PST. Automation Fair, which attracts over 15,000 attendees annually, is a premier event for exploring the latest in automation, control, and information technologies. Attendees are encouraged to visit Omnicon’s booth to discover more about the company’s industry-leading solutions.
Episode 533: Humanoids in warehousing with Zion Solutions Group
Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, where we dive into the impact of humanoids in warehousing with Zion Solutions Group’s President and Co-founder, Jim Shaw, and Executive Vice President and Co-founder, Jordan Frank. Zion Solutions, a leading systems integrator in warehouse automation, recently became the first to partner with Agility Robotics, marking a bold step toward incorporating humanoids into everyday operations. Today, Jim and Jordan discuss their approach to this collaboration, their focus on real-world solutions, and their long-term vision of how humanoid robots can help solve labor shortages and optimize warehouse tasks. Zion’s strategy offers a new look at how technology and human expertise can work together to redefine warehousing. A Collaborative Future of Humanoids in Warehousing Zion Solutions Group’s partnership with a leading humanoid robotics company highlights the potential for humanoids to play a supportive role in warehousing. “We’re the first systems integrator to work with a humanoid company actively deployed in warehouses,” Jim shared. Unlike conventional automation, these humanoids are designed to complement human workers, taking on repetitive, physically demanding tasks. Jordan explained, “They’re not here to replace people. Instead, they free up our team members to focus on more impactful work.” Testing Humanoids with a Step-by-Step Approach Zion Solutions and its robotics partner are testing humanoids with a measured, phased approach. Jordan describes it as a “crawl, walk, run” method, where each stage gathers insights and feedback from real-time applications. “It’s not about replacing a human’s speed just yet,” Jordan said, “but about deploying these robots responsibly to assist and support human efforts.” Early pilot programs have shown success in areas like tote handling, a repetitive but essential task in warehouse operations. Jim shared, “This technology allows us to reassign people to roles that require quick decision-making and adaptability—things robots can’t do as well.” With this approach, Zion ensures that humanoids will be used where they can add the most value. Zion’s Broader Vision for Technology in Warehousing At Zion Solutions Group, integrating humanoids is just one part of a larger strategy to redefine warehousing through innovative technologies. “Our goal is to leave a positive impact on the lives we touch,” Jim explained. The company’s extensive partner program ensures they stay at the forefront of new solutions, from robotics to software. “We strive to make our clients’ lives easier and more efficient,” Jordan added. For Zion, the goal is not just automation but intelligent, human-centered systems. This vision underscores Zion’s commitment to helping warehouses navigate the future with the right blend of people and technology. Key Takeaways on Humanoids in Warehousing Zion Solutions Group is the first systems integrator to partner with a humanoid robotics company focused on warehousing. Humanoids can handle repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to focus on higher-value roles. Zion and its partner employ a “crawl, walk, run” approach to humanoids in warehousing, ensuring that they are deployed safely and effectively. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 533: Humanoids in Warehousing with Zion Solutions Group
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has launched a low-cost Robot with largest reach
The MELFA RV-12CRL vertically articulated robot has the largest reach of any robot in Mitsubishi Electric’s low-cost robot series, at 1,504mm, and a 12kg payload capacity, making it a candidate for machine tending, case packing, and pick-and-place applications. Mitsubishi Electric Automation is reputable for its flexible and high-performance robots available in diverse payloads, reaches, and price ranges to accommodate customers’ unique needs. New to Mitsubishi Electric’s low-cost series of robots, the MELFA RV-12CRL vertical articulated robot offers a 1,504mm reach and 12kg payload capacity to cover a large work envelope, eliminating the need for a vertical life of an additional axis. Built-in features provide enhanced safety, streamlined implantation, and an overall reduction in downtime. The RV-12CRL features internal cables and air hoses for end-of-arm tooling, including 30 pins of signal cabling. Mitsubishi Electric has eliminated the need for encoder batteries that may cause tedious, expensive maintenance by adding MELSERVO-J5 servo motors, known for their battery-less encoder nature. Safety is a forethought, not an afterthought, with this robot launch through added safety via its CR800 controller to support safety monitoring functionality. The RV-12CRL series of robots possess versatile EOAT configurations, giving customers flexibility when selecting end-of-arm-tooling for the robot, making this series of robots appropriate for machine tending, case packing, and pick-and-place applications. When asked about the customer benefit of this launch, Product Manager (Robot) Curtis Sylliaasen stated, “The launch of the RV-12CRL robot marks an exciting opportunity for our customers to experience the quality and performance known by our industrial robot lineup at the price of a collaborative robot.”
Wauseon Machine introduces the redeployable automation module
Innovative Solution for streamlined production and flexibility across industries Wauseon Machine highlights its Redeployable Automation Module, a transformative solution designed to enhance automation efficiency across industries. Engineered for versatility and cost-effectiveness, this platform integrates seamlessly into various manufacturing processes, offering flexibility from manual to fully automated operations. Its modular design allows for easy customization and redeployment, adapting to changing production needs such as assembly, sorting, testing, and handling tasks. This innovative platform represents WM’s commitment to advancing manufacturing technologies, reducing initial investment costs, and accelerating deployment timelines. Recent implementations have demonstrated remarkable results, including a significant reduction in labor requirements and a notable 28% increase in production output. Whether used in a single-cell configuration or integrated into a larger assembly line, the Redeployable Automation Module empowers businesses to optimize their operational efficiency. Wauseon Machine, offering extensive fabrication capabilities, ensures every component of the Redeployable Automation Module meets stringent quality and performance standards. With over four decades of experience, Wauseon Machine continues to innovate in automation and precision machining, driving industry standards and meeting the evolving needs of its customers. Founded in 1983, WM has grown from a small machine shop to a leader in robotics automation and precision machining. The introduction of the Redeployable Automation Module underscores WM’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance productivity and operational flexibility in manufacturing environments.
Episode 531: Deus Robotics Delivering End-to-End Warehouse Automation
The New Warehouse Podcast welcomes Pavlo Pikulin, Founder and CEO of Deus Robotics, to discuss his passion for robotics. Pavlo’s passion for robotics traces back to his childhood dream of building robots to improve lives. With a background in AI and gaming, he founded Deus Robotics, focusing on providing end-to-end robotic solutions for warehouse operations. The discussion dives into how Deus Robotics integrates diverse robotic systems, utilizing AI to enhance automation efficiency. Pavlo also explores the unique challenges of robotic automation and the company’s approach to overcoming them. Transforming Warehouses with AI Pavlo’s early experience in gaming led to the development of advanced AI technologies, which are now the backbone of Deus Robotics’ solutions. By leveraging AI, Deus Robotics connects different robotic systems, ensuring seamless communication and coordination between hardware from multiple providers. “Our AI platform connects all systems,” Pavlo explains, “we can provide robots from different manufacturers, and they can work together in one system.” The integration of diverse robotic systems is critical in modern warehouses. Rather than relying on a single provider, Deus Robotics’ AI platform facilitates a unified approach to automation, enabling flexibility and reducing business costs. Overcoming Automation Challenges Integrating automation can be daunting for many warehouse operators, often due to concerns about cost and complexity. Pavlo recognizes that the biggest challenge for warehouse managers is understanding how to integrate robotic solutions effectively. He advises a phased approach: “Automate step by step, make small pilots in a small space… after that, you can scale it to a bigger part of the warehouse.” Deus Robotics’ end-to-end solutions address these concerns by offering project planning, simulations, and ongoing support. They ensure a smooth transition to automation without disrupting current operations. This step-by-step method helps warehouse managers test solutions on a smaller scale, minimizing risk while maximizing efficiency. The Future of Robotic Automation Pavlo predicts that robotic automation will continue to expand, driven by AI and sensor technology advancements. He highlights that robots are not just about hardware but the AI driving them, which will revolutionize the industry. “In the future, it will be easier to integrate robots, like buying a vacuum cleaner robot today,” Pavlo asserts. Deus Robotics is positioning itself as a leader in this space by offering flexible, modular solutions that cater to various operational needs. From large-scale warehouses to smaller facilities, their AI-driven systems will become increasingly accessible and offer significant operational cost reductions. Key Takeaways on End-to-End Warehouse Automation Deus Robotics’ AI platform enables seamless integration between robots from different manufacturers, optimizing warehouse operations. A phased approach to automation helps mitigate risks and ease the transition for warehouse operators. Robotic automation, powered by AI, is becoming more accessible and offers significant cost reductions for large and small operations alike. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 531: Deus Robotics Delivering End-to-End Warehouse Automation
Matthews Automation welcomes Christian Schauer as new Business Development Manager for EMEA
Matthews Automation has announced the appointment of Christian Schauer as the new Business Development Manager for the EMEA region. Christian will oversee sales and manage the growing interest and installations of Matthews’ advanced warehouse automation solutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Christian will be responsible for driving the adoption of Matthews’ innovative warehouse automation technologies, including NEXUS warehouse execution system (WES) software, controls for material handling equipment, robotics, and Lightning Pick paperless order picking systems. These solutions enhance distribution centers’ efficiency, productivity, and quality, especially for omnichannel order fulfillment. Matthews Automation, a U.S.-based company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Waukesha, Wisconsin, and now Estenfeld, Germany, has been a trusted material handling automation and software provider for over 30 years. With thousands of installations in distribution centers worldwide, Matthews Automation continues to expand its global footprint. Recent international projects include new installations in Canada, China, the U.K., and several sites across Europe. It should be noted that Matthews Automation is a division of Matthews International, which has several successful industrial automation brands already established in Europe for decades. These include Matthews Engineering, a global provider of calendars, rotary processing systems, turnkey production lines for industries such as automotive and energy, and Matthews Marking Systems, an international provider of cutting-edge technology and equipment for the marking and coding industry. Christian will be based in their EMEA headquarters in Estenfeld, Germany, now offering sales, service, and support for both Matthews’ industrial printing and warehouse automation technologies. With previous strategic business development roles at other industrial automation providers, Christian has successfully built new markets and applications for manufacturing process improvement technologies, including 3D machine vision, lasers, and collaborative robotics, for over twenty years. “I’m thrilled to join Matthews Automation as the new Business Development Manager for EMEA,” said Christian. “With my extensive background in providing advanced industrial technologies, I look forward to helping customers transform their distribution centers with our state-of-the-art material handling automation to drive greater productivity, quality, and success.” “For decades, global brands have optimized e-commerce and omnichannel order fulfillment in their North American distribution centers with our software, controls, and picking systems, and now adoption is quickly growing in locations worldwide,” shares Gary Cash, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Matthews Automation. “We’re excited to have Christian’s expertise to communicate and deliver innovative warehouse automation solutions to brands in the EMEA region seeking to take their supply chain operations to the next level.”
Recession-Proofing your business with automation: A Strategic Approach
In uncertain economic times, businesses face numerous challenges that can hinder their efficiency, safety, and sustainability. One key strategy companies can deploy to withstand recessionary periods is to consider the holistic impact automation can have on their business. This article explores how companies ensure safe, consistent operations, and position themselves for sustainable growth once the economic storm passes. What Does It Mean to Recession-Proof a Business? Recession-proofing involves positioning your company to remain resilient and stable even when market conditions are unfavorable. Typically, this includes some combination of improving cash flow, optimizing resources, and trimming unnecessary expenses. But recession-proofing can, and should, go beyond managing mere financials; it also means ensuring your company is adaptable and flexible, utilizes data-driven decision-making, and is prepared to compete in an environment of reduced demand and fierce competition. Investing in automation is one-way businesses can streamline their processes, reduce labor dependency, and boost productivity—all critical factors in weathering an economic downturn. Mitigating the Domino Costs of Labor Turnover Recession-proofing a business should include taking action to address the manufacturing industry’s biggest pain points in your company before an economic downturn. In an industry where labor shortages can severely disrupt production, manufacturers are increasingly turning to automation as a strategic solution. On average, there are between 500,000 and 700,000 job openings in the U.S. manufacturing sector at any given time, with many positions going unfilled due to the undesirability of repetitive, low-skill jobs. Automation can fill this gap by taking over monotonous tasks, allowing companies to redirect their human resources to higher-level, skilled roles. This not only improves efficiency but also opens up new opportunities for employees who can now focus on more complex tasks, such as machine operation and maintenance. Automated systems can operate 24/7 without the need for breaks or holidays, significantly maximizing uptime while providing labor consistency. It’s also important to remember that labor costs extend far beyond mere wages. The cost of benefits like health care and disability insurance continues to rise, driving labor costs up. Plus, recruiting and training new or replacement workers requires more onboarding effort and resources than businesses can extend. Unfortunately, higher turnover combined with too few resources often results in inadequately trained employees and lower-quality products over time. Inconsistency in product quality will negatively impact brand reputation and consumer loyalty, reducing market share and impacting your bottom line. Plus, inconsistency in employee training protocols because of a lack of resources can seriously impact safety, leading to preventable accidents. Automation offers companies consistent, reliable output that can improve facility safety and mitigate high turnover rates and the associated costs of recruitment, training, and beyond. For businesses that produce essential consumer goods, ensuring that products can get to market quickly and reliably is critical. Labor shortages can disrupt this flow, leading to loss of market share. Plus, in a recessionary environment, competition will inevitably increase as demand decreases. Ensuring your company has solidified consumer loyalty within its market segment should be a key focus area. By investing in automation, companies can safeguard their production capacity, ensuring they can meet market demand regardless of labor constraints. Beyond filling the labor gap, automation ensures consistency in output, enhances product quality, and helps safeguard against the rising costs associated with employee turnover. Accuracy, Scalability, and Standardization: The Benefits of Holistic Automation Automation offers substantial benefits including higher production output, enhanced precision and consistency, and increased employee safety. While it’s easy to make the case for the financial benefits of automation, improved workplace safety and product quality should not be overlooked as these factors have wide-reaching implications across organizations. “There is nothing more important than safety to any organization, any factory,” says Carl Doeksen, Global Robotics Automation Director at 3M. “We find that the safest factories are also the most efficient and are putting out the highest quality products. Quality lies in precision and repeatability.” The key to sustainable and consistent cost-minimization lies in safety and quality assurance. One of the main facets of quality, as Doeksen says, is precision and repeatability. This is where having adaptable manufacturing lines offers a huge advantage. Automation systems can be designed for reuse across different production lines, making them a flexible and cost-effective solution for driving consistency across products. Plus, by standardizing the mechanical, electrical, and software components of their machines, businesses can simplify maintenance and lower the total cost of ownership over time. The key to efficiency is streamlining operations—making the equipment you use as widely applicable as possible. As such, deployable modules can be powerful tools for recession-proofing. These adaptable, standardized systems can be rapidly implemented to enhance operations across various sectors. In warehousing, for instance, deployable modules might include automated order fulfillment systems that integrate robotics and software to streamline processes. Their key advantages lie in their ability to be quickly adapted to existing infrastructures, minimizing the time and cost of overhauls. Moreover, the scalability of deployable modules allows businesses to flexibly adjust to market demands without requiring large capital investments, making them both cost-effective and efficient. For example, incorporating robotics into business operations can maintain an extremely high accuracy level on the first pass, significantly reducing errors and waste. Robots, particularly in warehouse settings, perform tasks such as picking, packing, and transporting goods. These automated systems increase productivity by operating continuously, reducing cycle times, and optimizing labor utilization. This high level of precision is especially valuable for tasks requiring exact measurements, such as working within 10-millimeter tolerances—something challenging for humans but routine for robots. Automation not only drives financial gains through higher production output and reduced operational costs but also plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety and efficiency within the workplace. By minimizing human involvement in repetitive and hazardous tasks, automation reduces the risk of workplace injuries while enhancing overall productivity. As Doeksen emphasizes, the safest factories are often the most efficient, consistently producing the highest quality products. The precision and repeatability offered by automated systems not only improves product quality, but also contributes to long-term cost savings through
Norwalt Automation Group launches new corporate umbrella company
New divisions strategically align company to better suit target markets in the automation space. Norwalt has announced the launch of its new corporate umbrella company, the Norwalt Automation Group. This strategic move brings together four specialized divisions under one unified brand to better serve the diverse needs of key industries. The new divisions include the Norwalt Automation Division, Norwalt Life Sciences Division, Norwalt Food & Beverage Division, and Norwalt Digital Division. Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Seitel, Norwalt Automation Group aims to deliver tailored, cutting-edge solutions to its partners across various sectors. This expansion reflects Norwalt’s commitment to innovation and growth, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of automation technology. Each new division will be led by a collective team of divisional managers and senior company directors, and function under the leadership of the larger groups’ experienced leadership and executive team featuring industry leaders: Keith Harman, Executive Director of Business Development, Herbie Hoos, Executive Director of Manufacturing, and Donna Collura, Executive Director of Finance. “I’m thrilled to announce the formation of our newly structured divisions under the Norwalt Automation Group umbrella company,” said Mike Seitel, Chairman of Norwalt Automation Group. “These expanded divisions allow us to align more closely with the specific needs of our target industries, ensuring that we deliver tailored, cutting-edge solutions to our partners. This expansion reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and growth.” The new divisions within Norwalt Automation Group include: – Norwalt Automation Division: Focused on advanced automation systems for a wide range of industries. – Norwalt Life Sciences Division: Dedicated to providing specialized automation solutions for the life sciences sector. – Norwalt Food & Beverage Division: Tailored to meet the unique needs of the food and beverage industry, offering innovative processing and packaging automation. – Norwalt Digital Division: A future-focused division specializing in digital printing and automation, integrating AI, vision/inspection equipment, data collection/security, Industry 4.0, and Digital Twin technologies.
Demand for Industry specific AI drives increasing adoption of IFS.ai
IFS has boosted its offering in the six hardcore industries it serves to 60+ in-depth Industrial AI scenarios, which are available in the IFS Cloud 24R2 release. More than 300 additional scenarios are in the process of MVP (minimum viable product) validation. Despite the noise around generic co-pilots and consumer-focused AI, IFS is driving change and adoption of arguably the most impactful application of AI: Industrial AI. IFS.ai is Industrial AI, with customers already using and able to immediately implement IFS.ai without the need for expensive investments in toolkits or additional implementation resource. The Industrial AI scenarios available today with IFS.ai fit within the following Classes, and span both Generative AI and Predictive AI: Generative AI Content generation (personalized training; autogenerated project reporting) Recommendation (configuration to improve production quality; sourcing and supplier decision support) Contextual knowledge (assembly instruction and real-time guidance; unstructured data knowledge retrieve) Predictive AI Event forecasting (automated risk and mitigation; simulate product and asset behaviors) Optimization (optimize task sequencing; optimize vs. resources vs. capacity) Anomaly detection (proactive quality control and monitoring) Customers already using IFS.ai are reporting rapid returns. Ependion has turned to IFS.ai to improve efficiencies in the Manufacturing space. CIO, Joakim Stolt said: “IFS.ai Manufacturing Scheduling and Optimization (MSO) will help us increase productivity by automating our production planning process. We can quickly respond to changes based on external factors with AI-driven optimization designed to maintain high utilization of our critical resources to better meet customer demand. Ultimately, we are able to deliver optimal outcomes to our customers and product planners.” Noble Corporation, a world-class offshore drilling company, is using IFS.ai to boost productivity and efficiency. Kristian Mortensen, Manager, Maintenance Process & Solutions, said: “Ideally we only want to service or replace a component when it is within 80% of its predicted failure time or lifetime. IFS.ai promises to help us get a lot closer to that more efficient maintenance scenario. It also promises to make our systems perform better because we know what it is that we need to do – the critical failure point – from the legacy and analytics projections. If we want to change the maintenance interval, IFS.ai will help us to justify decisions to authorities and OEMs based on the historic data and insight available within the system.” IFS.ai is the backbone of IFS’s ERP, Asset Management (EAM), and Service Management (FSM and ITSM) solutions. When applied to the industries IFS serves, the impact is profound: 8 out of 10 of the leading U.S. energy companies use IFS.ai to deliver power to American homes 200 million + Americans connect every day using cell phone networks maintained with IFS.ai 200 billion packages a year are sustainably produced and distributed across the world thanks to IFS.ai 2 billion people keep moving on elevators and walkways maintained and services with IFS.ai every day 105 million U.S. households have utilities powered by IFS.ai 9 billion sq ft of construction projects globally are managed with IFS.ai 310 million passengers a year fly safely thanks to aircraft maintained by IFS.ai “Industrial AI is at the very core the solutions we are powering for customers. They are pushing us for ready-to-use AI that they can adopt quickly to solve real industrial challenges like labor shortages, supply chain disruption, stagnated productivity,” said IFS Chief Customer Officer, Cathie Hall. “IFS is the pioneer of Industrial AI, and we are committed to further extending our global leadership position, making more real-world AI use cases available for customers in our hardcore industries. The IFS mission is to accelerate the pace of AI development and adoption throughout our organization and into the products and services we deliver to customers. Our commitment to continued investment in IFS.ai has never been stronger.” “IFS has strength in the breadth of service capabilities that incorporate AI, machine learning, and IoT,” said Aly Pinder, Research Vice President – Worldwide Aftermarket Services Strategies at IDC said. “IFS is helping organizations address the technology opportunities of a rapidly evolving market that is benefiting from advanced tools to insights, collaboration, and action. IFS has been able to incorporate these tools into an Industrial AI offering that drives improved service operations and outcomes.”
Advancing with automation and AI
In today’s material handling environment, warehouses are driven by the need for speed and accuracy. At the same time, finding the right labor force remains challenging for some operations. Some are looking for automation and artificial intelligence (AI) advancements to fill those gaps and meet expectations. Increased demand for automation Brett Webster, director of product management at Dematic, noted that AI has already been transformative in many settings, including automation. “The industry continues to face challenges, such as ongoing labor shortages and disruptions caused by global events,” Webster said. “In an era where supply chain resilience is no longer ‘nice to have’ but a requirement for success, increased visibility and connection are paramount,” Webster said. According to the company website, Dematic is a “global leader in innovative, integrated supply chain automation technologies, software, and services. ” Leaders at Dematic anticipate supply chains will continue to become more autonomous, aided in part by the growth of AI. Webster noted a recent report by MHI and Deloitte finding that 87 percent of companies believe autonomous, connected intelligent supply chains will be standard by 2027. “As a result, companies are increasingly investing in AI technology,” Webster said. Currently, Webster said AI’s largest impact is on enhancing algorithms for decision-making software and optimizing operations. “However, as AI continues to grow over the coming years, access to and proper use of data will become critical. Real-time data analysis allows AI systems to identify inefficiencies, streamline operations, and automate tasks, helping the cost of and need for labor amongst industry-wide shortages,” Webster said. AI can also ensure algorithms reduce travel times and increase output by optimizing inventory placement, and help provide predictions and adjustments for fluctuations in customer demand, according to Webster. “We believe building a holistic ecosystem of solutions, software, and data, powered by AI, will drive the development of autonomous supply chains the industry has long anticipated,” Webster said. Solutions for e-commerce According to Mike Oren, SVP of sales for the Americas for Dematic, the demand for automation has increased in the years following COVID. He said the demand is driven by “evolving consumer expectations, ranging from same or next-day delivery, to sustainable business practices to omnichannel shopping.” “This shift is further fueled by ongoing labor shortages and the rapid growth of e-commerce, putting significant pressure on businesses to improve efficiency,” Oren said. The drive is resulting in a turn to automated solutions like Automated Guided Vehicles, Autonomous Mobile Robots, mixed-case fulfillment, and goods-to-person picking, according to Oren. “Fluctuations in demand have become the norm, and flexible automation can be scaled to help our customers adapt to their shifting needs,” he said, adding that software is the brains behind all of the technological solutions. “Software provides the data and visibility necessary to make insightful decisions while maximizing performance and speeding up fulfillment,” Oren said. He added that the companies best positioned to be competitive in the coming years will be those providing comprehensive hardware, software, and services. According to Kevin Heath, director of global robotics, Dematic provides up-to-date solutions for the world of automation through the work of its Modernizations & Upgrades team. Heath said the team helps customers improve the effectiveness of their operations by identifying and incorporating new automation, controls, and software that optimizes performance. “We also identify the best solutions for our customers to address those changes,” he said, noting that while Autonomous Mobile Robots have been in the market for some time, Bin-to-Picker AMRs in particular are “ideally suited” for the growth of e-commerce. Heath noted that when 3PL provider Radial outgrew its manual distribution center in the Netherlands due to increased e-commerce demand, Dematic helped with the automation of a new facility. “This included adding almost 300 AMRs to their operations, including 10 Bin-to-Picker stations. Since the facility opened in 2023, picking and packing performance has improved significantly, and the error rate is vastly reduced,” Heath said. He added that for companies with scarce resources, Bin-to-Picker AMRs can operate without human intervention and with little to no fixed automation. “Bin-to-Picker AMRs are cost-efficient, easily scalable, and equipped with software to improve efficiency and reduce order fulfillment times,” said Heath, who said Dematic customers utilizing Bin-to-Picker AMRs report more than 99 percent order accuracy and an ROI in as few as 1.5 years. Dematic automated systems can also be adapted to different warehouse environments, which Heath said makes them “an ideal solution” for industries ranging from retail to third-party logistics. “Our automation systems are modular, meaning they can be upgraded and expanded as new technologies emerge or business needs evolve,” Heath added. Meeting automation needs Some companies are building advanced solutions via new collaborations. In September, Kivnon announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Macrovey. According to a press release, Kivnon is a leading producer of mobile robots, including automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots. Kivnon specializes in solutions that optimize logistics and internal transport processes across industries. The statement said Macrovey is an industry leader in industrial equipment, performing electrical installations of complex motor and process controls for a variety of material handling systems. The new collaboration, which is now in effect, will “enhance both companies’ market presence and operational capabilities across North America,” the release said. “With this partnership, Kivnon aims to streamline the sales and installation processes for its mobile robots,” the release said. “At the same time, Macrovey will gain access to Kivnon’s innovative product line, allowing them to expand their offerings.” Jaume Martinez, managing director of Kivnon USA, said the partnership will ensure that customers receive top-tier service and support. “Together, we will set new standards in the automation industry, delivering tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of our clients,” said Martinez in a statement. In an email to Material Handling Wholesaler, Martinez said Kivnon’s automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots help automate material handling tasks and integrate seamlessly with higher-level systems. “One of our key strengths is the ability to connect our robots to external fleet management systems, enabling businesses
KION Group opens Center of Excellence for automated solutions
Now under one roof: Automated trucks and software development, customer solutions development, project realization, and production The new facility improves efficiency and fosters collaboration to develop industry-leading automation solutions for KION Group brands Ching Pong Quek, CTO of KION Group: “We can now more efficiently respond to customer needs and deliver innovative automation solutions faster.“ The KION Group has opened the KION Automation Center Antwerp in Belgium, a Center of Excellence facility for automated solutions in EMEA. It is the first of its kind and is now the primary hub for research and development, testing, and customized production of automated solutions in EMEA. Employees from the KION brands will now work and collaborate on automation projects and individual customer requirements. “Automation is the future for our industry, so I’m very excited about the new facility,” says Ching Pong Quek, member of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of KION GROUP AG. “By bringing various capacities under one roof, we can now respond to market needs and deliver automation projects faster, more innovatively, and cost-effectively. The teams design the right automation solutions for our customers and support our regional sales teams.” The new building allows new solutions to be tested and optimized on-site and requirements to be addressed individually and quickly. “The Center of Excellence will enable intensive collaboration across businesses with the aim of serving our customers even better,” says Quek. Approximately 400 employees with diverse professional backgrounds and 40 nationalities work at the KION Automation Center Antwerp. The 11,800-square-meter building is well equipped for collaborative work, with a flexible office concept encouraging creative thinking, learning, testing, and training. The building is located near the port of Antwerp in an industrial area that is set to grow and develop further in the coming years. Cross-departmental collaboration is a critical success factor at the new site The employees who used to work in the two rented locations in Antwerp and Zwijndrecht have now moved into the new automation center. It shortens distances and promotes cross-departmental team collaboration. One of the teams is the KION subsidiary, automation and software specialist Dematic, which has vacated its previous offices and moved less than 100 meters away to the new building. The team provides centralized services on automated solutions for customers across Europe. In addition to Dematic, other operating units of the KION Group are also based in the new building. One of them is KION Industrial Trucks and Services (ITS) EMEA, where a team handles customer projects from planning to delivery, including training sessions conducted in the office and test floors. They also focus on the testing and development of custom hardware and software solutions and the production of customized solutions, particularly for industrial vehicles. Robotic system development will play a major role in the new Center of Excellence for Automation. The team’s mission is to deliver intelligent, driverless, and interoperable robotic products, solutions, and services that are easy to deploy, operate, maintain, and support throughout their lifecycle in brownfield applications. Building design focuses on solutions that support sustainability The KION Automation Center Antwerp features modern standards of sustainable design, such as advanced insulation, solar panels, and a green roof. The goal is to achieve BREEAM sustainable building certification, which is based on a holistic approach to achieving environmental, social, and governance (ESG), health, and net-zero goals. A BREEAM assessment uses recognized performance measures against established benchmarks to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction, and use from energy to ecology. In addition, the KION Group is working closely with the European agency Encon to obtain a WELL Gold certificate from the US-based international WELL Building Institute. The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring building characteristics that affect the health and well-being of occupants. The new address of the location: KION Automation Center Antwerp Katwilgweg 3 B-2050 Antwerpen
Rennco Launches the EZ20 Vertical Bagger at PACK EXPO 2024
Add Rennco in booth S-3660 to your PACK EXPO 2024 itinerary to see how its vertical bagging solutions can add speed and efficiency to your next packaging application. Looking for a cost-effective way to automate your hand-packing operation? Then look no further than Rennco and its new EZ20 Vertical Bagger, which will be demonstrating its capabilities in booth S-3660 at PACK EXPO 2024, Nov. 3-6, at McCormick Place in Chicago. EZ20 Vertical Bagger Founded in 1969, Rennco has earned a reputation for high-performance bagging solutions that are rugged and durable for 24/7 operation. The new EZ20 brings those high-performance qualities of the Rennco brand to an entry-level model that is competitively priced compared to other similar machines. The all-electric EZ20 is a compact machine with a small footprint. The machine uses centerfolded film to create custom bags tailored to customers’ specific products and needs. The EZ20 represents more than two years of research and development by the Rennco team. Surveyed customers indicated a need for an entry-level machine that incorporates the strengths of Rennco with a cost-effective and easy-to-use bagging solution. Features and benefits of the new EZ20 Vertical Bagger include: Easy to load and operate Centerfolded film, no pre-made bag contracts Compatible with polyethylene and polyolefin (shrink) films User-friendly Allen Bradley HMI All-electric (no air required) – plugs into standard 110V wall outlets Speeds up to 25 packages per minute Pairable with optional discharge conveyor Interlocked perimeter guarding Flexibility to accommodate printers or labelers Ideal for a wide variety of consumer-packaged goods products and e-commerce applications Performance specifications of the EZ20 Vertical Bagger include: 14” standard vertical seal 20” standard horizontal seal 2” x 2” minimum to 14” x 20” maximum bag sizing 5 lb. maximum filled bag weight 4 1/2” – 9” standard jaw opening ProCommerce Vertical Bagging Series In addition to the EZ20, PACK EXPO attendees will see other Rennco bagging solutions in action. This includes the ProCommerce Vertical Bagging Series, which produces custom bags lined with bubble mailing material for e-commerce applications. The ProCommerce bagging solution utilizes flat stock material lined with bubble wrap to create custom right-sized packages in the vertical dimension. ProCommerce eliminates the use of costly pre-made bags that are often oversized for the product, which leads to increased materials and shipping costs. The ProCommerce bagging solution provides added flexibility to users as it can run bubble mailing material or opaque mailing film, covering virtually all aspects of e-commerce packaging and shipping needs. Lift Seal™ Heat Sealer The Lift Seal™ Heat Sealer provides an efficient alternative to impulse, band, and rotary sealers for bagging surgical instruments and supplies. The Lift Seal™ Heat Sealer is easy to maintain and simple to operate. Constant temperature is maintained by a digital temperature control during the sealing process. The lower silicone rubber bar is raised by a rugged mechanical drive to meet the stationary half-inch wide heating sealing bar above. This bar is covered with a special “non-stick” fabric, which is advanced by simply turning a knob as the fabric becomes worn. The fabric roll is ample for months of use and is quickly replaced by snapping the new roll into position. Rennco / Edson Packaging Collaboration Finally, show attendees will see a new packaging solution that merges the best technical expertise Rennco and Edson have to offer. This new packaging solution stars a Micro VCCL (Vertical Cup Counter Loader) from Rennco, feeding packaged stacks of cups to an Edson M1000 to efficiently collate and package paper cups into individual stacks and then load those stacks into cases. The Micro VCCL is engineered to package high volumes of paper cups in a compact unit that reduces floor space by 30 percent over a standard Rennco VCCL unit -all without sacrificing speed or reliability. The Micro VCCL is integrated with the M1000, an all-in-one case erecting and packing system from Edson. The M1000 takes knocked down flats (KDFs) and erects them into cases. The machine then side loads packaged stacks of cups into the newly formed cases, which are sealed and made ready for shipment.
Queen City Robotics Alliance announced New Board Member
Queen City Robotics Alliance has announced the addition of a new board member – Puneet Mody of Infosys. Mr. Mody is a long-time Charlotte resident having been at Infosys for the last 20 years where he is the Vice President and Regional Head of US Financial Services. He will bring his expertise in both finance and technology to QCRA. Mody has been volunteering in youth robotics for some time including the planning committee for FIRST® North Carolina and as a mentor for area FIRST robotics teams. He also sponsors the Infosys Tech Pioneer program teaching AI to college students. He looks forward to working with QCRA. “QCRA provides an amazing platform for students to explore and excel in robotics,” he says. “Their commitment to providing resources, mentorship, and support across different levels of robotics has helped numerous teams shine at the state, regional, and world stage. Having experienced this commitment firsthand, I am excited to further expand QCRA’s mission.”
CKF are best of the bunch with their banana palletising solution for Primafruit
CKF Systems was delighted to have been chosen by Primafruit to develop a new bespoke robotic de-palletising and re-palletising system at their site in the Vale of Evesham. Primafruit is a primary supplier of a broad range of fruit. The challenge The banana inspection and packing lines within Primafruit at their Evesham facility were heavily reliant on manual labor. Imported produce, cardboard trays filled with bananas, were received stacked on pallets, typically to a height nearing 2.5m. The operation for Primafruit was to de-stack the cardboard trays, inspect the produce, and re-pack the fruit into either cardboard trays or collapsible, returnable plastic crates prior to re-palletizing and despatch to their retail customer. Primafruit wanted to automate the process at their state-of-the-art facility which is perfectly located in a central hub for agriculture and have a dedicated pack house, chilled storage, and ripening chambers. The new system was another important step in their automation journey creating a more efficient and safe working environment. Approach CKF has vast experience, designing and building robotic palletizing systems for a wide range of industries. This application demanded that the CKF team fully understand the challenges such that customized solutions could be developed to provide Primafruit with an efficient automated process. The challenges were identified as: De-stack filled cardboard trays from a pallet 2.5m high that could have an inconsistent stack form and deformed cases due to transit. Manage and deliver cardboard trays containing bananas to each inspection and re-packing station ensuring there is always an empty tray or re-useable plastic crate available at each station to enable continuous inspection and re-packing. Re-stack either cardboard or re-useable plastic crates onto the finished pallet ready for despatch. Minimize the system footprint for the efficient use of the existing floor space. For the automation to be cost-effective CKF proposed a single robot for de-stacking and re-stacking. Searches, tolerances, case quality, and stack profiles are all key elements to the success of any robot palletization. To undertake the de-stacking and re-stacking utilizing a single tool would require a bespoke design. The CKF Engineering team also understood the demands on the tool to handle two differing containers i.e. cardboard trays and plastic collapsible, re-useable crates. It was vital that the tooling developed would maintain the integrity of the bananas, without marking or causing any damage. By using a single robot cell, the system would maximize the floor space available to ensure that designated access routes for personnel and the movement of materials would be maintained. The Solution CKF, an experienced ABB value provider for over 13 years, utilized an ABB IRB 660 industrial robot system in the solution design – this dedicated palletizing robot is designed to handle a load of up to 180kg at a reach of up to 3.15m. Its low-weight upper arm, 4-axis design, and parallel rod system mean it delivers optimized speed, reach and payload. This robot is exceptionally fast making it ideal for palletizing bags, boxes, crates, bottles and more. The CKF Engineering team developed the bespoke gripper to pick either two or three cases at a time (dependent on stack orientation.). The single tool was designed to suit both de-stacking and re-stacking, together with handling two case variants of differing dimensions, location points, and material. Based on an anodized aluminum framework to reduce weight, the tool utilizes pneumatically actuated side grippers and base slide plates for transfer of the multiple case format, additionally, a vacuum assist is required to enable lifting of the product trays prior to separation from the stack. Due to the lack of conformity of the pallet stack from the suppliers to Primafruit, the CKF team developed the Robot positioning for de-palletizing using an onboard sensor array to determine the coordinates of height and stack position prior to the pick operation. Once transferred from the pallet, stack cases are transferred to and from the inspection cells on the CKF range of ZPA conveyor sections which utilises the Interroll DC platform. This perfectly matched range of controls, motor rollers, and power units enables the provision of a unique combination of conveyors for this system. This includes CKF accumulation conveyors configured to provide individually controlled zones, allowing zero pressure accumulation of the product trays and the flexibility to be configured to different sizes. The system is driven on a Rockwell platform using a compact GuardLogix 5380 safety controller with a 10” SVGA touch screen for the Operator interface. Troax safety fencing is used around the robot cell to provide the enclosure, with Leuze light guards providing protection for pallet entry and exit.
DURAVANT Expands into China and appoints County Manager
Duravant Establishes Entity in China and Appoints Executive to Lead Local Growth Strategies and Infrastructure Expansion Duravant LLC has announced the appointment of Denver Lu to the position of Managing Director, Duravant China Co Ltd. The announcement follows the company’s recent investments to establish a local sales and service office in Suzhou, China. In this new role, Lu will be responsible for leading business development across the company’s Protein Processing, Food Sorting and Handling, Packaging and Material Handling segments by delivering innovative automation solutions to the Chinese market through Duravant’s world-class brands. Duravant has a long history of supporting global customers who operate in China, and with these investments, the company is advancing their commitment to expand its local sales and service infrastructure to better serve their customers’ expanding automation needs. “China is poised to become the world’s largest consumer market, driven by robust economic growth and rising incomes,” said Petros Diamantides, Duravant’s Chief Operating Officer, Emerging Markets. “As the country shifts its manufacturing focus from speed to efficiency and from quantity to quality, traditional sectors such as food, agriculture and logistics are undergoing a transformative evolution. We see immense potential in the China market to grow our partnerships with multinational customers and regional Chinese powerhouse brands.” Duravant’s comprehensive suite of automation solutions includes hardware and software integration, equipment and technology solutions, and aftermarket parts and services. “Our expansion in China is more than just geographic; it represents our dedication to providing full-service solutions that cater to the unique requirements of the Chinese market,” said Diamantides. “By leveraging our global expertise and local insights, as well as developing capabilities on the ground, we will be well-positioned to support the growth and transformation of the China market.” “We are extremely fortunate to welcome Denver to Duravant,” added Diamantides. As a veteran business leader with almost 30 years of experience in the China market, Lu has held management positions with both food & beverage companies as well as with OEMs. Lu’s extensive industry knowledge stems from leadership roles at Simplot, OSI, and Marel. Lu holds a Master of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States. He also has been recognized as a Fellow of CPA Australia.