Win robot palletising war

Two new palletising robots, three palletising grippers and an easy-to-use programming software have been introduced by ABB Robotics to make palletising simpler, faster and more efficient.

ABB says the compact, 110kg capacity IRB 460 is the fastest palletising robot in the world. Capable of up to 2,190 cycles an hour, this four-axis robot is designed for high-speed end-of-line palletising and bag palletising. It has a reach of 2.4m, and is said to occupy 20% less floor space and run 15% faster than its nearest rivals.

For high-output, full-layer palletising, ABB is introducing the IRB 760 robot. With a payload capacity of 450kg and a reach of 3.2m, this robot features high-wrist inertia, which enables it to rotate heavy and large products. It is targeted at beverage palletising.

Three FlexGrippers have also been introduced, including a clamp, which comes in two sizes, for handling cases; a heavy-duty claw for high-speed bag palletising; and a vacuum gripper that can handle up to five products at once.

However, the most revolutionary aspect of the new palletising portfolio is ABB's new software: RobotStudio Palletizing PowerPac. This program, which runs on a PC, allows users to configure, simulate and program ABB robots and grippers for palletising solutions, with little or no robot programming experience required.