Robotics Ease Heavy Task
Client:
Conagra
Industry:
Food & Beverage
Solution:
Robotics & Automation
Conagra is a consumer packaged goods company with $11.B revenue and 18,000 facilities seeking creative solutions to improve efficiency.
Challenge
- Multi-temperature handling environment required equipment that could operate in varying temperatures
- Food packages were prepared using slats between each layer of product for optimum flash freezing
- The slats then created the need to handle each layer of product twice – to remove the slat and then to prepare for shipping, creating a heavy manual task
Solution
- DLN implemented 2 robotic cells with 2 arms each, working in tandem: 1 robotic arm with layer picking attachment to transfer product to new pallet & 1 robotic arm with gripper removed slats
- DLN replaced conveyeor, stretch wrappers, controls and upgraded safety equipment
- 2nd project underway for additional de-slatting cells with direct feed to automated truck loaders
Results
- Reduced headcount by 50% (4 per shift to 2)
- Increased throughput by 15%
- Decreased product damage by 40%
