One of the key arguments for implementing automation and robotics solutions in a company is the increased safety of employees. However, for this to be achieved in practice, it is necessary to apply the required standards and adapt the chosen technology to the applicable norms and guidelines. Here, we present how these issues are addressed in the context of using a machine such as a palletizing robot.
Palletizing Workstations
In the palletizing process, modern palletizing workstations and palletizing robots are used. Palletizers are machines equipped with special arms that allow them to move individual products. They can be adapted to lift items of specific shapes and weights. Palletizing robots arrange the products on pallets and place the pallets in locations where they can be retrieved by an operator. The most commonly used mobile palletizing robot is the so-called AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) cart. Its design allows a pallet to be placed on it. It can move independently within a given space thanks to 3D cameras, sensors, and advanced control systems. Properly programmed, it can avoid obstacles and continuously determine alternative routes.
Robotized Palletizing
Implementing these solutions allows for streamlining production, improving quality, and increasing safety during one of the most important and physically demanding processes in the production chain. Industrial robots can work tirelessly while maintaining consistent precision. Errors are eliminated, the number of complaints is reduced, and the entire process is completed faster than if all tasks relied solely on human labor. However, safety considerations cannot be overlooked. Palletizing involves heavy loads and tight deadlines. High levels of fatigue and the risk of accidents negatively affect human safety. This is one of the main reasons why robotized palletizing is becoming increasingly adopted, not only in the largest manufacturing companies.
Palletizing Robots and Workplace Safety
Palletizing robots ensure that employees no longer have to perform the most physically demanding tasks. Human supervision is still necessary, but it is limited to quality control of processes and adjusting the settings of the machines used. Proper programming of the robots is also essential, allowing them to independently alter their routes, prevent collisions, and simplify movement between individual workstations. This can significantly improve the safety of all employees working in the production hall and involved in the palletizing process. At the same time, personnel can develop and move to positions requiring greater technical knowledge, which do not rely solely on physical strength.
What Safety Standards Apply to Palletizing Robots?
The foundation of safety in a production hall, whether robots are used or not, should always be occupational health and safety regulations, which specify, among other things, the use of personal protective equipment. In the context of palletizing robots, companies also follow ISO standards. According to these standards, in shared areas where both machines and humans work, devices should be equipped with detection systems. In specific spaces, the robot should not operate at its maximum speed. Additionally, experts recommend maintaining overall workplace safety and adapting the hall for optimal use. The better the pathways between workstations and the available space for machines and personnel are planned, the lower the likelihood of potentially dangerous situations, such as collisions with robots.
