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Four new solutions to save labour

Automation of certain labour operations reduces the number of man-hours required. Production process costs can be significantly reduced by replacing certain operations with a logistics system, intelligent cameras, or robotics. In 2017 WPS worked hard on a series of innovative solutions using robotics. These proven technologies can help to reduce the impact of rising wage costs.

Smart Destacking
The Smart Destaking automatically dispenses your trays. The tray buffer can be stocked with trays in various sizes and capacities. On arrival, the trays can be stacked straight onto the belt behind the tray dispenser. The buffer can hold up to five stacks of trays, with the height of the stack dependent on the tray to be used. This tray buffer automatically supplies any required tray to the Smart Destacking.

The Smart Destacking receives a signal from the WPS software (the OCS system) telling it which type of tray is needed. The stack of trays is conveyed to the dispenser from the buffer. The Smart Destacking picks up the stack of trays from the buffer and automatically dispenses them one by one onto the conveyor.

Smart Placing
The Smart Placing automatically places your plants in the tray. Plants are automatically transported to the Smart Placing on a conveyor. The conveyor is adjustable in size, width and speed. The Smart Placing is configured to match the number of belts and the robot’s reach. If changes are made to the way plants are supplied, the robot has to be reconfigured. The robot is supplied configured for a specific number of belts.

The Smart Placing picks the plants up from the conveyor and places them in the tray that has been supplied from the buffer. The gripper is variable and is adjusted to suit the customer’s needs. The capacity of the plant pick-up robot depends on the size of the tray. The leaf guide on the robot guides the plants so that they are placed neatly next to each other without being damaged, ensuring the plants retain their quality throughout the process.

Smart Wrapping
The Smart Wrapping automatically provides your tray with a film. The filled tray arrives at the Smart Wrapping. The tray is placed on a platform above the Smart Wrapping and is then lowered into it. A funnel shaped guide keeps the leaves pointing upwards so as to prevent damage to the plant. The machine rotates the tray containing the plants so that the film, which comes with an adhesive strip, is affixed around the tray. Once the film has been applied, the filled tray is delivered at the top of the machine and moved onto the next conveyor by a pusher. The funnel-shaped guide, the platform and the tray form one unit. The platform and the funnel-shaped guide are easy to change for different size trays.

Smart Labeling
The Smart Labeling automatically provides your pots with a sticker and label. The Smart Labeling robot can consist of a rotating carousel on which the pots are lifted partially out of the carrier by an arm, stickered and labelled, and then placed back in the carrier. The Smart Labeling can be fully integrated into the delivery system so no human intervention is required. The robot can also be integrated into the Order Control Software, making it easy to specify which label should be affixed to the pots of a particular order.

For more information:
WPS
Kijckerweg 115
2678 AC De Lier
T +31 (0)174 671 371
www.wps.eu
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