ABB showcases the future of packaging automation at interpack 2017

ABB packaging application experts will be on hand at the 17th interpack to demonstrate the latest solutions to help manufacturers pick, pack and palletize with greater agility to meet increasingly diverse consumer needs and shorter product cycles. Interpack, the world’s largest packaging trade fair, takes place May 4 to 10, 2017 at the Dusseldorf Messe in Germany. The theme of ABB’s booth (Hall 16; #A45) is “Collaboration and Digitalization: Revolutionizing packaging automation for the factory of the future.”

Collaboration between robots, equipment and automation systems can unlock greater flexibility and efficiency in processing and packaging. ABB will display a packaging cell that can box products at high speed while synchronizing a conveyor with an ABB robot, achieving the optimum balance of speed and motion.

The highest levels of packaging performance and reliability come from connecting collaborative automation solutions in the digital space. Interpack guests will be able to see how ABB Ability™ Connected Services can harness the intelligence from single robots or entire fleets to reduce incidents by up to 25 percent and speed response and recovery by up to 60 percent. Unplanned packaging system downtime can create costly bottlenecks and production delays as well as product safety risks in sectors such as food and beverage.

“What we are hearing from many customers is that automation systems that met their packaging needs for many years are no longer able to keep up with the unprecedented demand for greater product and package variety, or for increasingly compressed product lifecycles. ABB is helping customers in fast moving industries such as food, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods improve their ability to accommodate change efficiently while avoiding costly downtime – this is at the heart of the ‘factory of the future’,” said Per Vegard Nerseth, Managing Director of ABB Robotics.

ABB will also introduce a new food grade variant of its IRB 1200 compact robot. The IRB 1200 combines fast cycle times and long reach with the shortest turning radius in its class. This allows the robot to be close to processes and other equipment without interfering with operations, which makes cells faster and more flexible while using less valued floor space.

The new IRB 1200 variant joins ABB’s IRB 360 and IRB 120 robots to create a portfolio of small robots uniquely designed for the food sector. They are supported by advanced ABB Ability Connected Services and a broad array of grippers and accessories; as well as machine safety equipment, and ABB’s complete motion control offering including drives, motors and PLC controllers.

Further information for editors:

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 132,000 employees. www.abb.com

ABB Robotics is a leading supplier of industrial robots – also providing robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and service for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing and machine tending. Key markets include automotive, plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, electronics, machine tools, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. A strong solutions focus helps manufacturers improve productivity, product quality and worker safety. ABB has installed more than 300,000 robots worldwide. www.abb.com/robotics

All ABB Robotics’ products are fully supported by the ABB Robotics’ global sales and service organization in 53 countries and over 100 locations.