Its Business Is Picking Up

IBT is a proud integrator of robotic systems and is a significant supplier of systems built around ABB Industrial Robots.

The robotics business has been growing steadily -- and it's no surprise. Robot cost factors have been dropping and human labor costs have been on the upswing. As robotic technology becomes better and better, the economics and the capabilities of the machines themselves have been powering a strong expansion of their place in modern industry.

One particular area that has been strong for robotics is food. Today's food buyer, in the US especially, is pressed for time and needs convenience. As a result, food is being supplied through the super market in a more highly processed form.

Food, consequently, is an area that strongly needs and benefits from robotics, especially in packing. As food processing technologies are improving the standard of prepared food; the challenges of productivity for the manufacturer grow greater and greater. The robot's inherent advantages include its ability to save time -- and, therefore money.

ABB range of robots include several that are particularly good in food picking and packing applications.

Exhibit A: IRB 140
This extremely fast and agile 6-axis robot is ideal for high-speed packing applications up to 5 kg (11 lb.) handling capacity with 6 degrees of freedom. Although small in its structure, the IRB140 can be mounted in any direction and still have a reach of 810 mm (31 7/8")


Exhibit B: IRB 340 and IRB 340/2
A parallel-arm robot designed for the fastest and most demanding high-speed picking and packing applications. It performs more than 150 picking cycles per minute. The stainless steel and wash-down versions are specifically designed for open food applications. Available in 1 or 2 kg payload options, the exceptional low moving mass and overhead mounting of the robot also makes it highly suitable for use within for example packaging machines, feeding and unloading flow wrapping systems and blister pack machines.


Exhibit C: IRB 660 - The Latest Palletizing Robot
The IRB 660 is considerably faster than its predecessor. Iits optimized motor power and motion performance ensure significantly shorter cycle times than competing products. The palletizer, with its long reach, can service up to four in-feed conveyors, two pallet stacks, one slip-sheet stack and four palletizing out-feeding lines. The IRB 660 comes in a high-speed version capable of handling 180 kg (396 lb.), and as a 250 kg (551 lb.) robot.


Exhibit D: IRB 260 - Compact Industrial Packing Robot
The IRB 260 is based on IRB 2400, the world's most popular industrial robot with a total of 14,000 installations. Designed for easy integration into packaging lines, the new machine has the ability to work close to the base to minimize floor space. Low on weight and height, the IRB 260 fits easily into compact production cells. Works at high speed in a 800x800x800 mm (31.5") working envelope, making the new robot ideal for packing applications. IRB 260 can be combined with PickMaster -- ABB's vision guided packaging software -- and our new IRC5 controller.

These four examples are just a few of the multitude of applications and ideas IBT can give you for packaging and palletizing using ABB robots. To find out more and discover other significant advantages gained by using robotic systems in your facilities, contact us today.