Industrial manufacturers often struggle with capacity, labor strain, and consistency.
At Korea Filter Engineering, manual palletizing of 10–20 kg (22-44 lb) industrial filter boxes was limiting output, increasing ergonomic risk, and slowing deliveries.
After deploying the Robotiq PE20 with a UR20, the company achieved:
This case study shows how collaborative robot palletizing improves productivity while protecting workers in heavy-load manufacturing environments.
Founded in 1996 and based in Gimpo, Korea Filter Engineering manufactures industrial filters used in electrical discharge machining (EDM).
With a lean workforce and growing demand, manual palletizing became a production bottleneck.
Before automation, workers manually lifted and stacked approximately 4 tons of product per day.
Key issues included:
Previous lifting aids were tested but operations repeatedly reverted to fully manual palletizing due to complexity or inefficiency.
The company needed a solution that was:
In early 2025, Korea Filter Engineering selected the Robotiq PE20 palletizer integrated with the UR20 collaborative robot.
Minimal layout changes were required. The system integrated seamlessly with the existing conveyor.
Operators were able to learn and run the system within minutes, reducing dependency on specialized robotics expertise.
Young-Hun Yoo, Assistant Manager in Production, shared:
“After using the robot, our bodies are healthier, and we feel less tired—less than half compared to before. We have more energy left for our families after work.”
This project demonstrates key advantages of cobot palletizing systems:
Removing 4 tons of daily manual lifting dramatically reduces ergonomic risk.
Automation supplements labor instead of replacing it.
The PE20 handles up to 20 SKUs, supporting diverse product lines.
Compact design makes it viable for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
Measurable productivity and safety improvements accelerate payback.
Woo-Seok Kim, Director of Business, explained the decision:
“We checked many robot systems, but the PE20 was the most stable. Protecting our workers is the most important thing, and the PE20 allows us to do that. That is why it is worth the investment.”
If your operation involves:
Collaborative palletizing automation may deliver rapid, measurable impact.
Korea Filter Engineering’s transformation proves that manufacturers do not have to choose between:
With the right palletizing solution, you can achieve all three.
Use Robotiq's Palletizing Fit Tool to quickly assess whether cobot palletizing makes sense for your operation and what a realistic deployment could look like for your facility. You'll even get personalized estimates for ROI and payback periods and a 3D simulation of what Lean Palletizing could look like on your factory floor.