Packing with the right mix
- A complete line – from component infeed to palletising
- Belt speeds of up to 25 m/min
- The controller recognises the speed of the product infeed and adapts accordingly
- Flexibility in product types as standard
- Shelf-ready variants, mixed packs and multi-packs
Requirements
Shelf-ready for retail
Herbert Ospelt Anstalt, a company based in Liechtenstein, needed an extremely flexible packaging line to satisfy the requirements of international retailers.
The wide range of pet food offered by Ospelt has to be packed in a variety of different sizes to suit the needs of international retailers. The sheer variety of types, mixtures and carton sizes makes cartoning an especially challenging task.
Solution
From finished product to entire pallets
The packaging line supplied by Schubert Packaging Systems covers the whole
product range. It packs different stand-up pouches with pet food in various proportions and packaging types. From arranging the correct varieties to erecting and filling the shelf ready cartons and transport cartons, it provides efficient processes in unison with high outputs.
With its many years of experience, Schubert Packaging Systems was able to successfully handle the considerable number of different machine suppliers, as well as managing the very tight time frame for installation and commissioning of the entire integrated system.
Belt speeds of up to 25 metres per minute require a lot of computing power. The tried & tested VMS control from Schubert masters this juggling act with ease: no matter which format is being handled, the system remains stable.
Ospelt wanted a highly flexible machine to package different varieties and mixes into various cartons. The new packaging line from Schubert Packaging Systems efficiently handles this mammoth task.
Volker Grobshäußer
Sales Director Schubert Packaging Systems
Technical Details
Packaging line with a wide variety of formats
Unsorted pallet containers of ‘Stand-Up’ pouches are transported to the mixing centre via forklift trucks, where they are unloaded and taken to pick-and-place robot cells. Robots sort the pet food lying in the divisions of a four-lane flighted product feed chain. If the controller establishes that insufficient pouches of a specific variety are arriving, the chain is temporarily slowed down.
A step-chain stands up the pouches. As soon as a pattern is complete, a F2 robot transfers the packs to a grouping table. Two paddles reduce the group spread by up to 50 per cent prior to loading them into previously erected cartons and are then sealed with a separate lid.
The finished cartons are labelled on the long side or on a corner and provided with a code. The labelling devices receive the necessary data from the company’s ERP software. A checkweigher ensures that every single carton is complete. Shipper trays are erected in the last sub-machine. Pre-grouped cartons are placed into the shipper tray. The appealingly packed pet food, packed with the correct combinations, are now transferred to the next steps in the packaging process, namely palletising and stretch wrapping.
- Shelf-ready packaging and multi-packs (ten carton sizes)
- Two double-row shelf-ready variants (sticking two cartons together)
- Types: up to four varieties in a pack
- Mixed packs with different combinations of varieties as well as unmixed packs
- Packaging in shelf ready trays (six formats)
- VMS controller ensures a consistent process at belt speeds of up to 25 m/min
F4 robot arms position several hundred bags per minute into the infeed chains on the packaging line.
The pre-grouped pouches are stood up and placed into the grouping table, so that F2 robots can insert the appropriate number of pouches into the erected cartons.
System profile at a glance: from product infeed to palletising
The filled cartons are sealed with a separate lid and placed onto the discharge belt.
