Whether or not you’ve spent years in logistics or are simply getting began, one factor’s clear: palletizing is only one piece of the availability chain puzzle — however it performs a vital position in getting items out the door quick and with none disagreeable surprises at their vacation spot.
That’s why, on this article, we’ll stroll you thru the step-by-step strategy of palletizing, discover the various kinds of palletizing options, and enable you to select the proper one for what you are promoting.
So, what precisely is palletizing?
Palletizing is the method of systematically stacking giant portions of an identical packaged items (reminiscent of taped bins) on a pallet, prepared for cargo. They’re often stacked in a approach that’s steady sufficient to guard the products till they’re able to be taken aside once more.
Whether or not it’s transferring bins of chocolate or crates of pharmaceutical merchandise, palletizing helps items journey safely via the availability chain.
Many manufacturing and logistics firms nonetheless depend on staff to palletize manually. That comes with challenges, like staff experiencing again ache from bodily work and generally needing to give up to regain their well being and power.
This results in labor shortages and bottlenecks on the finish of the manufacturing line.
At present, with the rise of automation, extra companies are switching to robotic or cobot palletizers to satisfy rising demand with out placing additional stress on their workforce.
These robotic palletizing options not solely resolve the problem of discovering labor; additionally they considerably improve the effectivity of a facility’s end-of-line operations.
Whereas one worker can palletize 200–300 bins per hour, a robotic palletizer can simply deal with 600–1600 bins per hour.
Usually, these palletizers, particularly cobot palletizers, are compact and don’t take up a lot area in a facility, so their footprint stays low.
How palletizing works, step-by-step
Palletizing usually begins with selecting the best pallet, one that may deal with the burden and dimensions of your load.
Subsequent, objects are organized in a approach that balances weight and maximizes the area on the pallet. As soon as stacked, the load is secured utilizing straps or wrap to forestall shifting throughout transit.
The last word objective of a palletizer is to maintain every thing steady and compact on a pallet, irrespective of how excessive the stack will get.
1. Pallet choice
Deciding on a pallet that’s stable sufficient to your merchandise closely is dependent upon the business you’re in.
Picket pallets are the commonest possibility throughout the board. They’re inexpensive, robust, and utilized in many industries.
Are you within the meals or pharmaceutical business? Then plastic pallets are the best way to go — identified for his or her sturdiness and resistance to moisture, making them cost-effective in the long term.
Steel pallets, whereas much less frequent and costlier upfront, are perfect for very heavy or high-temperature masses, like these within the automotive or chemical industries.
When you’re managing a brand new firm and aren’t positive which pallet to decide on, it may be a good suggestion to check out two differing types to see which one handles your product finest.
2. Arranging the products and distributing weight
Arranging merchandise correctly on a pallet is completely essential to make sure they arrive safely at their vacation spot. Usually, heavier merchandise are positioned first on the backside, with lighter ones stacked on high. This prevents the products on the pallet from tipping over or collapsing.
With a Good Palletizer, you’ll be able to management the stacking patterns based mostly in your merchandise and and guarantee every pallet is stacked completely each single time.
Automating the stacking patterns helps you establish which sample works finest to your load and could be adjusted based mostly on the merchandise on the pallet.
3. Securing the load
After the products are correctly stacked onto a pallet, they must be tightly secured with straps, shrink wrap, or stretch movie to make sure they keep firmly in place throughout transport.
This is without doubt one of the most crucial but typically ignored components of the palletizing course of. It’s often ignored as a result of as soon as merchandise are stacked neatly, they appear safe sufficient.
Nonetheless, not utilizing sufficient shrink wrap can result in harm throughout transit, together with items shifting, falling, or getting crushed within the truck.
Finest practices embrace:
- Utilizing sufficient layers of shrink wrap to create a decent, uniform maintain.
- Wrapping all the best way right down to the underside layer and overlapping the pallet itself.
- Ensuring the wrap is tight sufficient to compress and safe the load, however not so tight that it damages the bins.
- Utilizing nook boards or edge protectors to keep away from crushing fragile merchandise.
It’s a small step, however it goes a great distance in ensuring your merchandise arrive protected and sound.
4. Labeling and documenting pallets
The ultimate step in palletizing is labeling the pallets clearly with their contents, weight, vacation spot, and any particular dealing with directions.
Every pallet additionally wants accompanying documentation, reminiscent of its origin and expiry dates, if relevant.
Good labeling and documentation make sure the pallets are dealt with appropriately, velocity up customs clearance, and make monitoring items simpler all through the logistics chain.
The various kinds of palletizing options
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy to palletizing. One of the best answer to your firm is dependent upon elements like your product vary, bottlenecks, finances, and future plans.
It additionally is dependent upon whether or not you want pallets with blended merchandise, often known as blended case palletizing, or pallets with only one sort of product.
Every answer has its professionals and cons, and by understanding these, you’ll be able to select the one which finest meets your operational wants and effectivity objectives.
Robotic palletizing
Robotic industrial palletizers are constructed for velocity and are perfect for functions like blended case palletizing. They’re well-suited for high-throughput traces the place each second counts and items must be out the door quick.
These robots are identified for his or her flexibility and precision, simply adapting to completely different merchandise as wanted. They’re a fantastic funding for enterprise leaders seeking to future-proof their operations.
Nonetheless, as a result of they’re mounted in place and require security fencing to function, they’re typically much less versatile than…
Cobot palletizers
Cobot palletizers, like our very personal Good Palletizer, deliver the very best of each worlds.
Designed to work safely alongside individuals with out the necessity for security fencing, they’re compact, simple to put in, and superb for dealing with a variety of field sorts for a single-SKU pallet. They’re a wise alternative for manufacturing areas and warehouses seeking to cut back their footprint.
Whether or not you’re coping with open crates or sealed bins, a cobot palletizer can adapt shortly to streamline your end-of-line course of. Contact our palletizing specialists in the present day to study extra.
Palletizing manually
Handbook palletizing remains to be frequent in smaller operations. It’s hands-on and doesn’t require a lot setup, however over time it could take a toll in your workforce and go away room for inconsistency in your operations, particularly with rising labor shortages.
What sorts of merchandise are you able to palletize?
With the proper setup, nearly something. Packing containers, crates, open or closed, gentle or heavy — all kinds of merchandise could be palletized with ease.
Our Good Palletizer, for instance, is provided with a novel fork gripper that simply lifts even open bins. It’s a sensible answer trusted by firms in meals, pharma, bakery, and extra.
Palletizing in motion: stacking chocolate at Heinerle-Berggold
Heinerle-Berggold, a German chocolate maker, swapped palletizing manually with a Good Palletizer to maintain up with manufacturing and cut back pressure on their workforce.
Set up was fast, and the outcomes had been rapid: the palletizer now covers three shifts of guide palletizing. At present, their staff work extra comfortably, whereas the cobot handles the heavy lifting.
Selecting the very best palletizing answer to your wants
When choosing a palletizing answer, it’s vital to judge your particular wants. Product sort, quantity, obtainable area, and finances all play a task. In case your operation handles excessive volumes and requires flexibility, a cobot palletizer can provide fast setup, simple adaptation, and an ROI in lower than a 12 months.
