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Sign inRobot sourcing for palletizing
Describe the complete layer and pallet pattern, including interlayers and orientation changes. Record the incoming pack condition and the finished pallet height. Check the gross carried load with the intended gripper rather than comparing the pack mass alone.
Application-specific questions
- Which box, bag or container dimensions and weights vary?
- What layer patterns and final pallet heights are required?
- Are slip sheets, multiple lanes or simultaneous picks needed?
- Where do empty pallets and finished loads enter and leave the cell?
Prepare the supplier comparison
Send pack samples, pattern drawings and the production timing. Ask for a proposed gripper, reach study and a cycle demonstration for the worst required pattern.
Define cell acceptance
Agree what will be demonstrated, how the cycle will be measured and which interfaces are included. Record the configuration used in the trial and the conditions that would require another review. Published robot specifications alone do not validate a complete application.
For system safety context, see the OSHA industrial robot system overview. Arrange an application assessment with a competent integrator; this procurement checklist is not a safety approval.
Buyer decision notes
Measure complete pallet patterns and gross carried load
Palletizing starts with the range of packs and required pallet patterns. A single box weight is not enough when the gripper carries several packs or handles a slip sheet. Define incoming presentation, layer changes and finished pallet removal, then ask each bidder to demonstrate the same sequence and the same output-quality criteria.
Prepared by RobotLineup Editorial · Analysis updated . Platform analysis, not an independent equipment test.
Compare proposals on the same basis
Ask each bidder to answer these items against the same drawings, parts and operating sequence. An unanswered item is a comparison gap, not a passed requirement.
| Decision | Evidence to request | Avoid this assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Gross picked load | Pack weights and the complete gripper, attachments and simultaneous-pick arrangement. | Robot payload equals one pack’s weight. |
| Pattern and height | All required layer drawings, orientation changes and the final pallet height. | One low layer proves access to the complete stack. |
| Line interface | Incoming spacing, buffering, empty pallets and finished-load removal responsibilities. | Pick speed equals finished pallets per shift. |
| Pack condition | Samples covering variation in shape, seal, rigidity and permitted contact surfaces. | The same gripper handles every packaging variant. |
Expose waiting time and pattern changes
Ask for a timing diagram that separates incoming-pack availability, pickup, placement, layer changes and pallet exchange. A fast individual move may not reduce the cycle if the cell waits for product or pallet removal. Use the buyer’s actual pattern mix when assessing a proposal rather than treating a favourable pattern as the only workload.
For multiple lanes, document which products may arrive together and how mixed patterns are handled. Decide where a failed pickup or unsuitable pack goes, and include that route in the proposal. Acceptance should measure correctly arranged pallets, not merely robot movements.
Worked sourcing brief
Illustrative procurement exercise. Assumptions below are invented for explanation; this is not a customer case, trial result or quotation.
Assume four 8 kg cartons are picked together. Their combined carton mass is 32 kg before the gripper and attachments are counted. A brief written as an 8 kg payload would misrepresent the task. Add the upper-layer placement and pallet-exchange sequence to the same review. The arithmetic helps define a load schedule; it cannot select a robot or predict its cycle.
What to record before acceptance
Agree the test method, responsibilities and pass conditions before ordering. The items below are records to request, not a completed validation.
- Record the complete picked assembly and the layer patterns used for the trial.
- Measure accepted output over an agreed period, including pallet exchange and stated line interruptions.
- Save observations on damaged packs, misplaced layers, recovery and SKU changeover.
Common buyer questions
Can the supplier quote a cycle from one box size?
That quote only covers its stated conditions. Request the range of sizes and patterns required by your line.
How should slip sheets be included?
Identify their storage, pickup and placement operations separately, including any additional tool or service requirements.