Decentralized palletizing is a concept where separate robot cells are installed at each end of the production chain. This concept is different from the centralized palletizing approach, where all production chains lead to one palletizing cell. While decentralized palletizing comes with numerous advantages, some people doubt its efficiency. How can you be sure that decentralized palletizing is ideal for your application? Here are some insights.
What are some of the Concerns Surrounding Decentralized Palletizing?
Decentralized palletizing is not as common as its centralized counterpart. Often, many people doubt the effectiveness of this concept on their enterprises. Cost is one of the most common concerns, with many people anxious about the cost of implementing decentralized palletizing. Adopting this concept would require entrepreneurs to deploy more than one palletizing robot, which would be expensive.
Robotic Deployment and Maintenance Works
Many entrepreneurs worry about the deployment process of decentralized palletizing as well as the maintenance works. Some people are afraid of investing lots of time in programming and ensuring that the robots are running efficiently. They are stuck with the opinion that centralized robots are more manageable than their decentralized counterparts.
Decentralized Palletizing can be Space Consuming
Many entrepreneurs, especially small business owners, are afraid that decentralized robots take up large floor space. Some people are convinced that they lack sufficient space to fit in a decentralized palletizing robotic system. While all these are reasonable concerns, they are but assumptions.
Collaborative Palletizing Robotic Solutions are Unique
Innovations in the robotic palletizing industry are currently addressing common concerns that many entrepreneurs have struggled with in the past. Today, cobots are ideal for solutions for palletizing. These advanced robots make decentralized palletizing more suitable for multiple situations. Such was not the case in the past when entrepreneurs only relied on the massive palletizing robots.
Collaborative robots differ from their traditional palletizing counterparts in various ways. Apart from being cost-effective, they can operate effectively without additional attachments. Further, they are easy to deploy, smaller, and require minimal to no maintenance at all. With collaborative palletizing solutions, the robot does not limit consumers from utilizing decentralized palletizing.
Including one palletizing robot at each end of your production chains is now more achievable. However, you should be sure that decentralized palletizing is ideal for your application before adopting it.
How to Determine whether Decentralized Palletizing is Ideal for you
While deploying decentralized palletizing is now much more manageable, this does not mean that it’s ideal for your application. You will need to assess your unique requirements before adopting it. Here are some of the considerations you should make before making a final decision.
· List Down What You are Looking for in a Palletizing Solution
Creating a list can give you a new outlook on any complex decision. Here, you want to highlight every crucial palletizing solution requirement. Do not make assumptions about the potential solution you will eventually choose.
· Be Futuristic
You will reap the benefits of a decentralized palletizing solution over a prolonged period compared to a shorter time. Compare the effects of a decentralized palletizing solution vs. those of centralized palletizing in the long term. How will the former transform your enterprise in the future?
· Determine the Return on Investment
Consider the primary, prevailing, and maintenance expenses for any of your preferred solutions when determining the return on investment. Collaborative robots are cost-effective, and this is where they overpower their traditional palletizing counterparts.
· Determine Robotic Solutions
Consider comparing the different solutions available. Should you opt for collaborative robots, you will need to understand that a pre-structured palletizing solution eases the process. On the other hand, deploying the robot cell can be a difficult task.
· Plan the Robot Cell
After identifying your preferred palletizing robot, start designing your robot cell. Should you opt for a pre-structured solution, you will need to determine how it will integrate with all the parts of your process.
Finally
Decentralized palletizing is designed to ease your operations as much as possible. However, you can only achieve success by choosing the ideal robotic option for your applications. Understand your needs and research before adopting palletizing solutions.
