ABB'S cool cats get the cream at Pakex

ABB'S cool cats get the cream at PakexKeywords: Robots, ABB

ABB Automation Limited has had two massive robot-based orders confirmed while attending the Pakex Show. The orders, on behalf of the Dairy Crest Group and worth a staggering £650,000, were "signed-off" by the milk giant's production director, Gordon Wilde, when visiting Pakex on Thursday 5 April.

Dairy Crest has agreed to purchase ABB FlexPailetizer V3.0 high-capacity palletizing systems, which are to be installed at the Dairy Crest plant at Stonehouse, Gloucestershire and the Unigate plant at Hanworth, South West London.

Part of the order is for twin cell FlexPalletizer systems, which form part of a massive investment by Dairy Crest in building an ultra-efficient "super dairy" at Stonehouse. The system will be used to convey a fresh milk product from ambient temperature packing areas to cold store.

The second element of the order is for a single FlexPalletizer system, to be used for pallet handling and stretch wrapping at Dairy Crest's Hanworth plant.

The order was won in the face of fierce competition by ABB Automation account manager, Mark Jocelyn, and general sales manager, Peter Mitchell (see Plate 2).

With the confirmation of the order, a jubilant Peter Mitchell said: "We are absolutely delighted that Dairy Crest has specified ABB FlexPalletizer V3.0 to form the vanguard of its flexible automation integration. In choosing ABB,Dairy Crest is entering a productivity partnership with an industry leader dedicated to achieving maximum competitive advantage for its customers. Our outstanding robot products, coupled with our comprehensive customer service initiatives, place us in an unrivalled position to deliver the very best in industrial IT solutions".

 Plate 2 ABB Automation's general sales manager Peter Mitchell (left) with Gorden Wilde,production director, Retail Milk Operations, Dairy Crest

The new FlexPalletizer V3.0, exhibited for the first time at Pakex, is the industry's fastest solution to palletizing problems, with a 25-30 per cent advantage over its competitors. The new version offers a customised gripper range for virtually every kind of product and packaging, as well as advanced productivity and pallet design software packages, which make FlexPalletizer even easier to operate.