The Flowpacker – a high-performance packaging machine with the smallest possible footprint
The developers and machine builders at Schubert are always tapping into inspiration from robot technology. An especially interesting example of this is the Flowpacker: The flow-wrapping process, which is fully integrated into the TLM modules, makes the machine layout extraordinarily slim and compact. Compared to a conventional flow-wrapping machine, the Flowmodul unit requires significantly less space – with a machine efficiency of over 99 per cent. The space-saving design, exceptionally high flexibility, highly advanced sealing systems and excellent quality control all contribute to making the Flowpacker from Schubert an exceptionally secure investment in the future.
A Flowpacker from Schubert requires up to 70 per cent less floor space than conventional flow-wrapping machines.
A quantum leap thanks to robots
This technological quantum leap is only made possible by the use of robots. Gerhard Schubert recognised the potential of automated “co-workers” at an early stage and as a result presented the first robot in a packaging machine in 1986. Today, the pick & place robots in the Flowpacker with their individually designed tools carefully place every conceivable product into the flow-wrapping unit’s feeding system. Unlike the long infeed belts of mechanical systems, processing with pick & place robots is much gentler and more efficient: no product abrasion on long infeed paths, no rejects due to breakage, and no unnecessary contamination of the packaging system. Even highly delicate products can be packed in the Flowpacker without any problems. Furthermore, the pick & place robots can group and stack products in all possible variations.
An upstream image recognition system with a 3D scanner carries out the optical inspection of the individual products: It checks position, orientation, shape, colour and volume, and ensures that only absolutely perfect goods are processed by the robots. The interplay of image recognition, pick & place robots and the flow-wrapping unit integrated into the line enables remarkably high machine efficiency – while ensuring flawless product quality.
More about the flow-wrapping machines
It is only the use of pick & place robots instead of conventional feeders that makes the compact layout of Schubert’s flow-wrapping machine possible.
