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New Advances in Robotics for Packaging

Despite a turbulent 18 months, robot suppliers continue to introduce advancements in robotics technology that include innovations in payload and reach, end-of-arm tooling, software, and applications.

In the area of robotics, 2020 was the first time yearly orders of robots coming from the non-automotive sector surpassed orders for automotive applications in North America.
In the area of robotics, 2020 was the first time yearly orders of robots coming from the non-automotive sector surpassed orders for automotive applications in North America.

The last year-and-a-half has brought dramatic changes in consumer buying behavior that will have a lasting impact on how Consumer Packaged Goods companies equip their production operations. In the area of robotics, 2020 was the first time yearly orders of robots coming from the non-automotive sector surpassed orders for automotive applications in North America.

That’s according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), which reports that sales of robotic units in North America increased 3.5% in 2020 from 2019. Even more impressive, Q4-2020 was the second-best quarter ever for North American robot sales, with a 63.6% increase over Q4-2019.

In food and beverage, year-over-year orders of robots grew by 56%. Among the drivers resulting from the pandemic were the increase in consumers shopping via e-commerce, a drop in labor availability, the need for social distancing within packaging plants, and a massive growth in core SKUs and increased capacity resulting from pantry stocking.

To meet CPGs’ greater desire for automation, robotics suppliers have been busy innovating. Over the past year, they have introduced robots that are more flexible and can handle a greater variety of applications; more-complex vision systems; robot software and programming that’s easier for newcomers to the technology; and end-of-arm tooling that handles a greater variety of products and offers faster changeover.

The following articles provide an overview of these developments, including innovations in articulated-arm, delta, and SCARA robots, cobots, end-of-arm tooling, and technology engineered specifically for e-commerce:

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