CHICAGO (July 17, 10:50 a.m. EDT) — With Proco Machinery Inc.´s new blow molding automation technology, the need for a human presence is almost eliminated — until the very end.
Proco introduced the Robopak Packaging System at NPE 2000 in Chicago. Robopak retrieves blow molded bottles from a conveyor belt and places them in the box, said Raj Aggarwal, manager of sales and marketing.
Robopak includes a vacuum hose in the bottom of the box to keep the plastic bag from moving around, he said.
"The idea is to eliminate the need for labor throughout the entire system," Aggarwal said.
The only time an employee needs to be involved is when the boxes are removed from the machine´s grip once they are full, he added.
Proco, based in Mississauga, Ontario, has manufactured basic automation products for blow molding in the past, but it did very little to reduce labor, he said.
"We´ve done a little bit of case packaging and they were very limited in their use," Aggarwal said.
The Robopak´s average cost is $50,000.