15 Palletizing & Depalletizing Robot Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for palletizing & depalletizing robots as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 palletizing & depalletizing robot manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked palletizing & depalletizing robot companies as of April, 2024: 1.RMH Systems, 2.Simplimatic, 3.TGW SYSTEMS INC..
Table of Contents
What Is a Palletizing Robot?
A palletizing robot is an industrial robot that stacks boxes packed with products in a predetermined position on a pallet.
It is sometimes also called a palletizer. Palletizing robots feature a highly automated robot arm that handles the task of transporting and loading heavy loads. Because of its many advantages, such as enabling high-mix low-volume production, improving food product freshness, and reducing shipping time, palletizing robots are attracting attention in a variety of industries.
A similar type of equipment is the depalletizing robot, which automatically unloads boxes mounted on pallets. Depalletizing robots have similar benefits.
Applications of Palletizing Robots
Palletizing robots are used in a wide range of industries, including many manufacturing and logistics industries that handle food, chemical, and machine parts. In manufacturing and logistics, boxes packed with products are stacked in specific arrangements on pallets, and then lifted by forklifts to efficiently transport the pallets.
Manually lifting boxes one by one after packing and stacking them on pallets in multiple layers is extremely burdensome work. Onsite, the risk of back pain is a major problem.
By introducing palletizing robots, the work of loading pallets can be automated, which is expected to save labor, reduce the risk of work-related injuries, and streamline the production process.
Principle of Palletizing Robots
Palletizing Robot has a gripping mechanism that grips the box in which the product is packed and an arm to which the gripping mechanism is attached. If the processes before and after the palletizing robot are also automated to some extent, the position of the pallet can be the same every time as the position of the boxes sent from the previous process.
Therefore, if the robot repeatedly performs the pre-teached grasping, carrying, and loading operations, it can load the boxes at the exact position. One side of the jaws that make up the gripping mechanism is thinner than the other side, allowing adjacent boxes to be loaded in close contact. Safety principles are specified to prevent workers from entering the robot's range of motion, since workers may be injured if the robot arm collides with them.
Therefore, in addition to automation of product transfer from the previous process using conveyor belts, etc., worker safety is ensured by installing fences to prevent entry into the robot's movable range and by installing ancillary equipment such as doors with interlocks that stop operation when opened.
Types of Palletizing Robots
Palletizing robots include vertically articulated robots and Cartesian coordinate robots.
1. Vertically Articulated Robots
Vertically articulated robots have a structure similar to a human arm. Vertically articulated palletizing robots, for example, consist of 4, 5 or 6 axes.
2. Cartesian Robots
An orthogonal robot is a robot with a simple structure consisting of a single-axis linear motion unit. An orthogonal palletizing robot consists of 3 or 4 axes, for example.
Other Information on Palletizing Robots
1. Teaching Palletizing Robot
Palletizing robots performs the task of repositioning an item from its initial position to a specific position. For example, if the Palletizing Robot performs the task of placing a pallet of 30 boxes (30 long x 20 wide) on a pallet, a total of 600 boxes will be loaded on the pallet.
If we assume that we need to define 5 teaching points for the palletizing robot to reposition one box, then to program this palletizing operation, we need to teach 600 x 5 = 3,000 positional information to the palletizing robot. The palletizing robot must be taught 3,000 positional information.
Teaching 3,000 position data manually to the palletizing robot is a very difficult task. Therefore, teaching is generally simplified by taking advantage of the features of palletizing.
In the case of a pallet with 30 boxes lined up in a regular pattern (30 boxes vertically and 20 boxes horizontally), if the positional relationship of adjacent boxes is known, the positions of all boxes can be calculated by offsetting them by the difference of their positions. Teaching the robot the calculated positions of all the boxes completes the robot teaching.
2. Difference from Depalletizing
Depalletizing is the process of moving goods on a pallet to a predetermined position. In other words, it is the reverse of palletizing. Since palletizing and depalletizing involve almost the same work, similar robots can be used.
Depalletizing is part of the process of transporting goods delivered by an outside manufacturer to various locations within the company. Because the palletizing of goods is done externally, it can be difficult to maintain a certain level of palletizing accuracy quality. In this case, it is generally more difficult to develop a depalletizing process than to develop a palletizing process because it may not be possible to accurately perform the depalletizing operation within the company.
List of 15 Palletizing & Depalletizing Robot Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
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- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
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- United States of America
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Honeywell International Inc
Semi-automated and Robotic Depalletizing Systems
Manufacturer Overview
Honeywell International Inc. was founded in 1885 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing company to global customers in many industries such as aerospace, building technologies, performance materials, manufacturing, and safety. Honeywell produces hardware and software solutions for each industry it serves. In building technologies, Honeywell designs access controls, electrical and wiring, fire life safety, and employee training services. In aerospace, Honeywell designs cockpit systems and displays, engines, cabin management and cleaning, and health and usage monitoring.
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Simplimatic
Robotic Palletizing & Depalletizing
Manufacturer Overview
Simplimatic is a Forest, Virginia-based American manufacturer of automation systems and components originally founded in 1965 as Simplimatic Engineering Corp. before being acquired by Signode in 2021 and rebranding in 2022. The company's specialized product lineup includes laser systems for cutting, scanning or welding, packaging and lab automation systems, conveyors for semiconductors or pharmaceutical applications, and robotic palletizing equipment. The company also offers design and engineering, installation, personnel training, and maintenance services for customers in need of additional support.
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RMH Systems
PALLETIZING ROBOTS
Company Overview
RMH Systems was established in 1938 and is based in Waukee, Iowa as a provider and integrator of material handling, packaging, and robotic automation solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes conveyor systems, overhead cranes, end-of-line packaging, inkjet coding, racking, ergonomics, and industrial robots, among others. The solutions and accessories offered by the company are vital components in production and distribution systems, enabling safe and efficient operations. The products are used in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, industrial, medical, and motorsport. It is suitable for multiple purposes, from manual operation to computerized control.
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Chain We Machinery Co., LTD.
Pallet Distribution (Collection) System
Manufacturer Overview
Chain We Machinery Co., Ltd was established in 1988 and is headquartered in Taichung City, Taiwan. The company is a designer and producer of customized factory automation conveying equipment to customers in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Customers are generally in the semiconductor equipment, electronics, logistics, and food industries. The company’s products include roller and belt conveyors, linear tracks, pallet dispensers, aluminum framework, and other components designed to improve efficiency in Industry 4.0 environments.
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Manufacturer Overview
OCME Srl is an Italian manufacturer of integrated systems for industrial packaging that was established in Parma in 1954. The company’s product portfolio includes filling machines for bottling viscous or liquid goods, as well as packing, stretch wrapping, palletizing, and depalletizing machines. It also offers internal logistics solutions such as conveyors, elevators, and laser-guided vehicles (LGVs) for onsite material handling or transport operations. The company’s products are commonly used by clients in the food and beverage, personal care, paper goods, and lubricants industries.
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Manufacturer Overview
FANUC Corporation, established in 1972 and headquartered in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is a manufacturer of factory automation, robomachine, IoT, and robotics. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including, servomotor, robodrill small cutting machine, roboshot electric injection molding machine, robocut wire electrical discharge machine, and lasers. These cutting-edge products cater to a wide range of industries, spanning from automotive, health care, and aerospace to electronics. The aim of the company is to provide efficient and low-cost products to customers.
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Okura Yusoki Co., Ltd.
Palletizing robots
Manufacturer Overview
Okura Yusoki Co., Ltd. established in 1960 and based in Hyogo, Japan, is a manufacturer specializing in material handling equipment. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including conveyor equipment, advanced 3D robot picking systems, efficient automated storage systems, precise picking and sorting equipment, and palletizing equipment picking equipment among others. In addition, the company also provides end-to-end support, from system consultation and design to manufacturing and after-sales service to engineers.
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YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
Compact Palletizing Robot
Manufacturer Overview
YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD. established in 1973 and based in Kuzetonoshiro-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN, is a manufacturer and distributor of Cartesian robots and other industrial automation equipment. The company's product range includes Take-out Robots, Palletizing Robots, End-of-arm tools, Stock System, and Downstream Equipment. These products are designed for tasks like extraction of injection-molded plastic products, enhancing labor efficiency, and supporting factory automation processes. Industries relying on manufacturing, factory automation, and broader industrial operations benefit from its offerings. Beyond product manufacturing, YUSHIN provides services such as product development, and comprehensive sales support.
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KUKA AG
Packaging and palletizing robots
Manufacturer Overview
KUKA AG was founded in 1898 in Augsburg, Germany. The company is a subsidiary of GD Midea Holding Co., Ltd. and is an automation developer, designing and manufacturing robot-based automation solutions for medical, automotive, warehousing, and distribution industries. The company’s product segments include robot systems, production machines, and systems, mobility as a driver of Industry 4.0, and process technologies that provide special welding processes to factories. The company’s services include repair and servicing for robots and machines and engineering services for designing and programming robotic systems.
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Mech-Mind Robotics Technologies Ltd.
Depalletizing and Palletizing
Manufacturer Overview
Mech-Mind Robotics Technologies Ltd. is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of 3D cameras and AI robotics software that was established in Beijing in 2016. The company primarily produces MECH-EYE branded high-resolution, high-detail industrial 3D cameras for various imaging applications. It also offers MECH- brand series deep learning, machine vision, and robotics programming software. The company’s products are used mainly in the construction, automotive, and logistics industries, including by companies such as Schneider Electric and Siemens.
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Robopac USA
Palletizer Machines & Equipment
Manufacturer Overview
Robopac USA was established in 1982 as a manufacturer of secondary packaging solutions with its headquarters in Italy. The company deals in Automatic and Semi-Automatic Wrappers with various configurations for different applications. They also provide Case Packer Machines, Horizontal Bagging Machines, Stretch Bundlers, Shrink Bundling Equipment, and Wrap Around Case Packers along with Palletizers and Laser-Guided Vehicle Systems (LGV). This equipment and machines have applications in the food and beverage, paper goods, personal care products, metal, and woodworking industries.
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TGW SYSTEMS INC.
(DE)PALLETIZING SYSTEMS - FULL CASE PICKING
Company Overview
TGW SYSTEMS INC., established in 1976 and headquartered in Marchtrenk, Austria, is a manufacturer and supplier of automated warehouse solutions. The company's product range entails automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), picking systems, conveyor systems, robotic systems, and warehouse management software, serving industries such as fashion and apparel, grocery, industrial and consumer goods, and e-commerce. The company’s comprehensive services include design and engineering, installation, maintenance, and repair, as well as technical support. It also holds an ISO 9001:2015 certification, reflecting its devotion to delivering quality automated warehouse solutions.
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Yaskawa Motoman Robotics
4- and 5-Axis Palletizing Robots
Company Overview
Yaskawa Motoman, founded in 1989, is a manufacturing company which offers industrial automation and robotics solutions in the Americas. With more than 540,000 industrial robots, 18 million servos and 30 million inverter drives installed globally, the company provides automation products and solutions for virtually every industry and robotic application including arc welding, assembly, packaging, dispensing and more. Their product line includes more than 150 distinct industrial arm, a full-line of pre-engineered "World" solutions that are complete application-specific robotic systems that include robot, process and safety equipment. They are backed by a powerful parent, Yaskawa Electric Corporation of Japan.
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Greif Velox
Palletizing Robot Velopack
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Palletizing & Depalletizing Robot Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RMH Systems |
18.7%
|
| 2 | Simplimatic |
11.5%
|
| 3 | TGW SYSTEMS INC. |
10.1%
|
| 4 | OCME |
8.6%
|
| 5 | Robopac USA |
7.9%
|
| 6 | Mech-Mind Robotics Technologies Ltd. |
7.2%
|
| 7 | Chain We Machinery Co., LTD. |
5.8%
|
| 8 | Honeywell International Inc |
5.8%
|
| 9 | KUKA AG |
5.0%
|
| 10 | YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD. |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the palletizing & depalletizing robot page as of April 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- Star Seiki Co., Ltd.: 1,010
Newly Established Company
- Mech-Mind Robotics Technologies Ltd.: 2016 (8 years ago)
- Yaskawa Motoman Robotics: 1989 (35 years ago)
- Chain We Machinery Co., LTD.: 1989 (35 years ago)
Company with a History
- OCME: 1954 (70 years ago)
- Star Seiki Co., Ltd.: 1964 (60 years ago)
- Simplimatic: 1965 (59 years ago)
Palletizing & Depalletizing Robot Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Palletizing & Depalletizing Robot Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
3 | 33.3% |
Japan
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3 | 33.3% |
Taiwan
|
1 | 11.1% |
Italy
|
1 | 11.1% |
Austria
|
1 | 11.1% |
