Blow moulding systems provider Proco Machinery has established a sister company to provide advanced collaborative robotic automation systems for packaging manufacturers.
Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Cobots Inc is to target several sectors, including plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Collaborative robots (cobots) are designed to work alongside humans, assisting them with a variety of tasks from materials handling and process assembly, to quality inspection and palletising.
They can be placed in small-spaced assembly lines and are described as being lightweight and flexible, to allow for redeployment to multiple locations.
They are also said to be able to handle short runs and repetitive jobs and are easily trained. ‘Intuitive tools and logical process steps make it easy for operators with no programming experience to streamline their operations,’ the company said.
In addition, the cobots have safety features that immediately stop motions when contact is made with a person or object, which means they do not require the enhanced safety components associated with industrial robots, the company claimed.
Proco Machinery president John McCormick, who is also Cobots Inc director, said strong growth for collaborative robotic systems had been observed in the blow moulding industry “due to the need for greater efficiency and automation”.
“These systems are being designed in such a way that they complement the production line and provide simplified operation, a smaller footprint, and enhanced efficiencies,” he said.
Proco Machinery recently launched a super-compact palletiser system with cobots for blow-moulded containers, and its latest automation technology includes the collaborative robotic Robo Packer case packer.
