Rockwell Automation Deploys 240-pm Robotic Pick-and-Place System for Cranswick
ROK•Rockwell Automation has installed a fully automated pick-and-place system at Cranswick’s end-of-line packaging, processing 240 sausages per minute using autonox Delta robots integrated with Allen-Bradley Kinetix VP servo motors and GuardLogix 5380 controllers. The system replaces manual handling, boosting labor productivity and enabling staff redeployment to more skilled tasks.
1. Project Background
Cranswick, a leading UK gourmet-food manufacturer, commissioned Rockwell Automation and CWM Automation to automate its end-of-line sausage packaging process. Manual picking and placement on the Christmas-market “pigs-in-blankets” line had created production constraints and risked missing annual targets.
2. System Technology
Powered by Allen-Bradley Kinetix VP low-inertia servo motors and GuardLogix 5380 safety controllers, the autonox Delta robots detect sausage presence and orientation before executing 240 pick-and-place cycles per minute. CWM Automation engineered custom end-of-line tooling and safety integration to meet precision, speed and deadline requirements.
3. Operational Impact
The fully automated solution eliminates manual handling bottlenecks, increasing labor productivity and allowing staff redeployment to higher-skilled roles across other production lines. Cranswick reports on-time completion of seasonal volumes, improved throughput consistency and reduced per-unit packaging costs.
