A manual worker has the capacity to singulate as many as 2,500 parcels an hour in the induction system of a parcel hub in optimum conditions, whereas a robot will probably not manage more than 2,000. But this is an isolated benefit, as robots are a better fit for the bigger picture.
Not only are robots a sound investment, but they enable CEPs to level out the flow of the parcels and avoid micro-peaks – provided they are installed by an experienced system integrator.
CEPs are fast discovering how they can quickly make vast savings by installing robots: a ROI in two to four years.
Download the full e-book ‘Hands down – Why robots are a smart investment’ to discover how.
On a dynamic pick and place, which uses a moving conveyor, the capacity is higher than with a static pick and place, so several cages can be emptied at once, or at intervals, so there are never stoppages waiting for refills.
The parcels are always moving, which is a good fit for the robot’s sensors, giving the robot time to assess all of the parcels’ dimensions so it can avoid non-conveyable parcels.
With a dynamic pick and place system design, the system controls enable the conveyor to adjust the speed of the parcel flow in response to changing levels of demand at induction.
The parcels are either placed on a conveyor with uniform spacing and alignment before entering the in-feed for automated induction to the high-speed sortation system – or simply placed directly for automated induction.
It’s vital, therefore, that experts in parcel system integration with a good understanding of end-to-end flow use tools to stretch the bulk, level out the flow and avoid micro-peaks.
Without expertise involved in the software used to program the robot, and then the installation, the CEP runs the risk of not reaping all the other benefits of the automation – to learn more, download the full e-book.
Only a trusted system integrator will know how best to implement the robotics and then how best to calibrate them to steady the parcel flow, optimise sortation and boost the overall sortation system capacity, which makes it easier to match the network capacity (manning) with volumes.
The CEP needs a solution that can guarantee both its induction capacity and overall system capacity. While both static and dynamic solutions can achieve optimal package placement on the belt, the dynamic pick and place can interact better with both induction and dispatch.
And it lends itself well to the future needs of the parcel hub. To learn more, download the full e-book.
