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Collaborative Automation Gives MedicoPack Even Cleaner Products in a Shorter Time

This is an OnRobot company case study.

 

Two collaborative robots (cobots) fitted with four grippers from OnRobot are assisting with two production lines at the MedicoPack factory in Langeskov, Denmark, where they produce a significant number of infusion containers daily. Once the plastic containers are moulded and checked, they are moved via a conveyor belt past the robot arms, each fitted with two OnRobot grippers to pick up two items at a time and stack them correctly, making them ready for packing.

Previously, the finished infusion containers were collected in a large packing bin, from which they were manually checked, stacked, and packed. MedicoPack deemed that this could be done more expediently, not just in terms of efficiency but also in terms of contamination risk. Therefore, MedicoPack opted to automate the stacking process.

“The risk of our customers experiencing particles – what we call contamination – on the products is reduced because of the solution from OnRobot. The cleanliness of the product is essential to our customers because the products will be used for medication, and what touches the medication matters. They must be 100% confident that the quality is good so our containers will not ruin the medication they fill them with. We have developed this confidence over several years by always delivering products of the proper quality”, says Kenneth Sæderup Pedersen, project manager at MedicoPack.

MedicoPack is happy that their already low contamination risk has been reduced, while the efficiency of the production line has been improved significantly. Employees no longer need to stand by the conveyor belt and count the items while ensuring they are oriented correctly. This frees up both time and resources.

“We chose OnRobot’s grippers in collaboration with our machinery supplier who recognised the opportunity of meeting some of our requirements by handling the items with grippers. Among other things, there are options for tightness of the grip, placement of the grippers, and the speed with which they close”, says Kenneth Sæderup Pedersen.

He is also excited about the design of the grippers.

“Aesthetically, the grippers have a very nice design, and there is just a single, tiny wire – other than that, they are clinically clean. There are no hoses running the length of the robot like one might normally see. It is a nice look that contributes to simplifying the entire concept, delivering a clean look and high quality for the customers. At the same time, it reduces implementation and programming time”, emphasised Kenneth Sæderup Pedersen.

 

To find out more about EoAT, visit our End of Arm Tooling (EoAT) page.

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