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.