At trade show Emballage 2012 in Paris, Roy Fraser, product manager, robotics told FoodProductionDaily.com that the Gemini 4 system could increase the performance of packaging robots by 20%. This could increase output for food manufacturers generally.
The new controller could handle eight robots and 16 conveyors, double the amount the previous controller could, said Fraser.
In addition, Bosch Packaging was standardising components in its horizontal and vertical packaging machines, making them simpler to operate and run, he said. "We are trying to decrease cost of ownership by standardising equipment."
The company has also simplified the 'end effectors' in packaging machines, the gripping elements between the product and the robot, reducing the changeover times and increasing overall equipment effectiveness for their robotic packaging machines.