Robotic & Conventional Palletizers

Palletizing is the process of stacking large quantities of identical items onto a pallet for shipping. Items are stacked according to weight and in a pattern that promotes stability and product integrity. While the original method of palletizing consisted of people manually loading items onto pallets, nowadays palletizing machines make the process much faster and safer.

Palletizing Products

The palletizing method enables you to stack multiple items in a single bundle, based on volume or weight. In addition to providing better product protection, it can also reduce shipping costs. A few of the steps involved in palletizing include the following:

• Fill Boxes to Maximum Capacity: When packing products in boxes, fill to capacity, while accounting for weight or volume limits. Add an extra layer of protection by wrapping products individually before placing in the boxes. Any corners and gaps between items should be filled to strengthen the boxes and prevent crushing during transport.
• Stack and Distribute Properly: All boxes should be stacked, with weight evenly distributed to avoid any shifting or toppling off of the pallets. Also, stacked items should not overlap the edges of the pallet, otherwise, damage may occur.
• Secure Items with Wrap: Once the pallet is full, the entire unit should be wrapped with multiple layers of plastic wrap to bind the pallet and items together. If necessary, corner protectors constructed of Styrofoam or cardboard can be added to increase overall stability.
• Pallet Types Matter: Another factor to consider when choosing an automated palletizer is knowing the type of pallets you need versus what the system is engineered for. Pallets are made of different materials including plastic and wood and are also available in various shapes, dimensions, and weights. As such, it is a must to maintain consistency with the pallets used.

Palletizing uniquely shaped items is often more challenging than more uniform products. For example, industrial equipment is typically strapped to pallets rather than wrapped. However, in industries that produce massive amounts of products, utilizing automated palletizers can alleviate manual labor and significantly improve productivity.