Automated packaging and palletizing of heavy goods

Where others give up, he pitches in: The OnRobot VGP20 electric vacuum gripper can lift up to 20 kg and is thus the strongest model of its kind on the market. It supports tasks such as packaging and palletizing heavy or bulky goods, relieving employees from ergonomically unfavorable activities. At the same time, it ensures more efficient material handling. The gripper is compatible with robot arms from all leading manufacturers. It enables a variety of applications in industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, as well as food and beverage manufacturing.

Feed bags, clothing, bulky cartons: Until now, such permeable, large, or shape-unstable goods were difficult for robots to handle because they could hardly be grasped with conventional grippers. Therefore, OnRobot has now developed the VGP20: The electric vacuum gripper can carry up to 20 kg and also holds on porous surfaces.

"Efficient packaging and palletizing processes are critical to success for manufacturing companies, online retailers, and logistics service providers," explains Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO of OnRobot. "Performing these activities manually is monotonous and physically demanding for employees. Additionally, there is a tense personnel situation due to skilled labor shortages. Our VGP20 makes it easier for companies to automate these processes. This relieves the affected employees and improves productivity and quality."

90 percent lower costs than pneumatic grippers

The new vacuum gripper automates processes traditionally performed with pneumatic grippers— but more affordably and simply: While pneumatic grippers operate with compressed air, the VGP20 runs entirely electrically and is ready to use immediately after unpacking. It requires no external, wear-prone hoses, which reduces maintenance and operating costs by up to 90 percent compared to pneumatic models.

The suction cups and air supply of the VGP20 can be adapted to the specific workpiece and task. Additionally, the gripper features multi-channel functionality, allowing it to grasp objects of different shapes and sizes. This makes its flexibility suitable for fast-paced production and logistics environments, as Enrico Krog Iversen explains: "Our customers are looking for affordable, easy-to-deploy vacuum grippers that can handle heavy, bulky loads. At the same time, these solutions should be intelligent enough to manage irregular shapes and porous surfaces."

Secure and flexible automation

The integrated intelligent control mechanisms and user-friendly software allow operators to control the VGP20's airflow much more precisely than conventional vacuum grippers. This enables them to adapt the gripping process to different application scenarios. As a result, the gripper can handle both delicate, fragile objects such as light bulbs or glass bottles and heavy cartons.

Furthermore, the VGP20 has a setting that allows the airflow to be monitored constantly. When activated, if the vacuum is lost for unknown reasons, the robot automatically stops its movement. Simultaneously, an alarm is triggered via a pop-up window in the gripper software. This ensures safe packaging and palletizing.

Reduce packaging and palletizing costs

Activities such as palletizing, which occur at the end of the production line, are labor-intensive and costly. Researchers estimate that labor costs account for an average of 65 percent of a warehouse operation's budget. This surpasses the total costs for supplies, taxes, sales, and rent. For this reason alone, automation is worthwhile. According to market researchers, the use of automated palletizing solutions in the food and beverage industry has been growing worldwide by an average of 13 percent annually since 2017.

Another reason why automation makes sense in this area is the rising costs of packaging materials: the price of cartons has increased by almost 40 percent since 2010. Given the ongoing eCommerce boom, further demand increases are expected, prompting retailers to seek more affordable packaging options. Thinner, more porous cartons and packaging trays pose a challenge for conventional automation solutions. The powerful, customizable VGP20 can handle these cheaper alternatives as well. This allows online retailers to save on shipping costs too.