company
Ornua
industry
Food and beverages
country
England
staff
3000
Why does Ornua use cobots?
Ornua uses the UR20 cobot for palletizing applications to efficiently handle products weighing up to 12 kg. The cobot's high payload and long reach enabled the company to automate a task that posed a significant risk of repetitive strain injuries for employees. The goal was to find a solution that would work seamlessly alongside staff while also enabling the handling of various dairy products. With this investment, Ornua is reducing the workload on its team and enabling skilled workers to move into more value-added roles.
What challenges had to be overcome?
Palletizing at the end of the production line was one of the most labor-intensive activities at Ornua. The task involved moving dairy products in packages weighing between 6 and 12 kg, as well as heavy cheese blocks weighing 10 kg. Manual loading and unloading required constant bending, stretching, and lifting, which posed a health risk to staff. Ornua therefore sought an automation solution that would reduce these physical stresses. Conventional robot systems were unsuitable as they would have completely isolated humans from the process, which did not meet the flexibility requirements of the dairy.
What does Universal Robots' solution look like?
In collaboration with a certified partner, a specialized palletizing solution was implemented that is based entirely on the UR20 cobot. The system performs simple pick-and-place tasks by picking products from the conveyor belt and placing them precisely on pallets.
configuration
Enter the carton dimensions, weight, and pattern via a visual user interface without any code programming.
recording
A vacuum gripping system picks up the products securely from the conveyor belt.
palletizing
The UR20 automatically places the products on the pallet in the specified pattern.
collaboration
The cobot operates without protective fencing directly alongside personnel, enabling constant interaction and supervision.
Why the UR20 was the ideal choice for Ornua
20 kg load capacity
Easily handles 10 kg cheese blocks and 12 kg boxes.
1750 mm reach
Provides the necessary radius to efficiently utilize the full pallet height.
Collaborative design
Allows operation directly next to employees without isolating them from the process.
Do you have any questions about our cobots?
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Maximum efficiency thanks to the new generation of robots
With the UR20, Ornua is relying on the latest technology from Universal Robots, which has been specially developed for higher speeds and heavy loads. The intuitive software makes it possible to start the palletizing process in no time at all without any complex programming knowledge. This ensures uninterrupted operation with consistently high stacking quality. The reliability of the system ensures efficient end-of-line logistics for Ornua, while freeing employees from strenuous tasks.
"When I heard about the UR20, we were very excited about its ability to lift over 20 kg."
Jack Cotton
Project manager at Ornua
