Arvato Launches Palletizing Robot in Venlo

Arvato has successfully launched a new palletizing robot at its location in Venlo, Netherlands. The robot is part of the goods receiving and storage process, palletizing not only boxes from loosely loaded containers but also wrapping the pallet and applying the tracking label. With this robotic solution, the supply chain and e-commerce service provider is consistently implementing its strategy to automate its global logistics centers.

(Gütersloh/Venlo) “The deployment of the palletizing robot, which we have internally named after the superhero Bucky Barnes ‘Bucky’, is the next step in robotics. Following the initial success of our three depalletizing robots, we have gradually implemented further robotic solutions, from picking robots to container unloading,” says Karoline Kowalik, logistics engineer at Arvato. “Bucky is not an isolated system, but another building block in our automation strategy, with which we are redesigning and completing the process chain towards a fully automated goods receiving process,” emphasizes Bernhard Lembeck, head of the Future Warehouse department at Arvato. “We aim to use ‘Stretch®’ from Boston Dynamics in the container, Bucky for scanning, palletizing, and packaging, as well as autonomous transport systems (AGS) for storage in the existing pallet shuttle. We are currently working intensively to optimally integrate everything into the overall process.”

Can Grasp Multiple Boxes Simultaneously

The new robotic solution in Venlo was planned and tested by a team from operations, engineering, project management, and IT development. The palletizing robot, supplied by automation specialist Segbert, can grasp multiple boxes simultaneously with its vacuum gripper and process between 700 and 3,000 boxes per hour, depending on size. Karoline Kowalik: “What makes Bucky special is that it is a turnkey solution that integrates various process steps.” Thus, Bucky palletizes the boxes from loosely loaded containers in the inbound process, simultaneously captures the serial numbers, and assigns them to a pallet. Once the pallet is completely assembled according to a specified pattern, it is transported to the packaging machine, wrapped in film, and labeled with a pallet number – all automatically.

“In terms of throughput times, lack of personnel, employee health, and sustainability, there are numerous advantages,” emphasizes Karoline Kowalik. “With Bucky, we can reduce the time spent in the receiving process by about one-third, which offers our customers higher throughput and better service.” Additional benefits: Only two employees are now needed to carry out the processes instead of four, allowing the freed-up capacities to be utilized differently. Employees also no longer have to lift heavy boxes, as the incoming conveyor belt is height-adjustable.

Cardboard Waste is Avoided

The use of the palletizing robot also protects the environment and increases sustainability, as the combination of robot and shuttle avoids cardboard waste such as corner boxes or paper lids. Karoline Kowalik: “However, the use of Bucky should not be limited to Venlo, as we place great importance on modular and scalable solutions in automation that can be deployed throughout Arvato’s global network.”

Photo: © Arvato