Benefits

Palletizers are generally grouped into three types: Layer Formers, Gantry Type, and Articulated Arm Robots.

Layer Form Palletizers are typically big and bulky. These systems are designed for medium to high-speed packaging lines and use a complicated system of conveyors, pushers, plates, and elevators to form layers that are pushed onto a pallet. They are highly complex mechanical systems that require precise timing and adjustment to be effective.

Gantry Type Palletizers are large devices servicing multiple lines and pallet positions. They are designed for high volume, multiple SKU applications and require highly complex computer programming and precision high tech mechanical assemblies to be effective. They are also very expensive.

Articulating Arm Robotic Palletizers use sophisticated computer programming and expensive servomotors to provide precision at high speeds. Articulating Arm Robotic Palletizers are used for high volume applications with limited SKU mix.

Stackbot uses a small footprint and simple mechanical systems and PLCs (Program Logic Controllers, i.e. simple computers) based on standard engineering principles to palletize at the end of low to medium speed production lines. The Stackbot is priced for the small business but can also be used in larger environments where production is distributed over several production lines. Placing a Stackbot at the end of each production line is usually less expensive than using costly conveyors to transport the cases to a centralized high cost, high speed palletizer. Bigger is not always better!

Stackbot is right for you if you palletize 200 pounds per minute or less with case weights under 50 pounds and have infrequent pallet pattern changeovers (more than three per day would start to erode efficiency).