Automating depalletizing may seem simple until...

INTRODUCTION

Automating depalletizing may seem simple until different container shapes, sizes, and materials must be handled. To understand the scope of the challenge, we spoke with Luigi Maldera, Robotic Division Director at UNIMAC-GHERRI:

“The main requirement was to automate the depalletizing of empty containers of different types, shapes, and sizes, while ensuring high productivity, flexibility, and continuous feeding of the filling and capping lines.”

The result is a system capable of adapting to different industrial sectors, with particular effectiveness in the food industry, ensuring a constant production flow without interruptions.

HOW THE ROBOT WORKS

The depalletizer operates at the initial stage of production: it automatically picks up cans, bottles, jars, or jerrycans from pallets and transfers them to the filling and capping line. Thanks to a continuous flow that can exceed 100 containers per minute, production lines operate more efficiently and without sudden stops, improving production continuity and reducing downtime.

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Unlike traditional systems, the UNIMAC-GHERRI depalletizer integrates custom robotic cells with gripping heads specifically designed for each container type and for the required productivity.

A single gripping head can simultaneously handle:
• containers
• interlayer cartons or trays
• empty pallets

This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional systems, which are normally designed for a single function, increasing versatility and reducing the number of machines required on the line.

CONCRETE BENEFITS

The depalletizer offers tangible advantages for every production line:
• Complete process automation for high efficiency
• Speed exceeding 100 containers per minute
• Precision and reliability thanks to robots and dedicated gripping heads
• Reduction of manual interventions, ensuring continuous production

In addition, integration with existing lines is straightforward: conveyors, pallet feeding systems, diverters, and storage systems for empty pallets and cartons make the depalletizer compatible with any production configuration.

WHY CHOOSE THIS SOLUTION

“We offer a customized, highly flexible solution capable of handling different container types and functions with a single system. This allows greater adaptability to customer requirements, space optimization, and increased productivity,” concludes Maldera.

In practice, a single robotic depalletizer can replace multiple dedicated machines, making the line more efficient, safer, and more versatile, and paving the way for modern, intelligent production.