RPC Cobelplast is investing €1.1 million in the automation of two processes that will deliver improved efficiencies, enhanced customer service and sustainability benefits.The company has installed a new wrapping and palletizing system for finished rolls of sheet along with an innovative automatic sack emptying machine.
The end-of-line system, which serves eight production lines in three separate halls, shrink wraps each roll in foil, which is then placed onto a pallet. Full pallets are subsequently strapped and coded. An innovative feature of the system is its ability to read barcodes which enable it to wrap reels and stack pallets according to individual customer requirements.
As well as improving line efficiencies, the system also delivers important sustainability benefits. The shrink wrap process halves the amount of outer packaging in terms of weight and reduces energy consumption.
The new sack emptying machine also delivers improved efficiencies, thanks to its ability to pick up and empty an entire pallet layer in a single operation, eliminating the need for manual handling. Special grippers lift the 25kg bags of granules which then pass over rotating knives above a funnel.
The bags are then shaken to ensure the entire contents are discharged, leading to an evacuation rate of 99.9%. The machine can handle up to 1300 sacks per hour, maximising production and delivering a clean working environment.
