Ornua, a leading Irish dairy cooperative, wasn't churning out the efficiency they desired. Their manual palletizing process, involving a variety of heavy dairy products, was a recipe for employee strain and reduced productivity.
The headache of manual palletizing
Manual palletizing of dairy products, from 6kg blocks of cheese to 12kg packs, took its toll on Ornua's employees. Constant bending, stretching and lifting meant a high risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) and fatigue. This was not only impacting on employee well-being, but also hampering overall production. It was vital to find a solution that would meet these physical demands while retaining flexibility for a variety of products.
Smoother operation: The Robotiq solution
Ornua found the answer in Robotiq's Palletizing Solution with the UR20 cobot. This collaborative robot integrated seamlessly into their existing operations, eliminating the need for isolated, cumbersome automation systems. The user-friendly interface made it easy for employees to collaborate with the cobot, maintaining the human element that was crucial to their production environment.
Transforming the bottom line
Implementing an automated palletizing solution at Ornua brought these results:
- Reduced RSI: Physically demanding tasks were taken over by the cobot, significantly reducing the risk of injury.
- Increased productivity: A 30% boost in palletizing efficiency resulted in a smoother, faster production flow.
- Happier Employees: Freed from the physical strain, employees reported increased satisfaction and morale.
"We looked at palletizing as the first area to explore automation due to the number of human resources needed. If we can automate that task, then those resources can be used elsewhere."
Jack Cotton, Ornua's Continuous Improvement Lead
The takeaway: A win-win for efficiency and employee well-being
Ornua's success story demonstrates the power of collaborative automation. By adopting Robotiq's Palletizing Solution, the company has not only improved efficiency, but also created a safer and more pleasant working environment for its employees. It's a win-win situation for productivity and employee satisfaction, proving that sometimes the best way to succeed is to let robots do the heavy lifting.
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