Robots boost packaging production capacity
The second largest UK manufacturer of solid board boxes primarily for the meat, poultry, fish and horticultural packaging sectors, Northern Paper Board has installed automated robots to significantly boost production capacity. The Skipton, Yorkshire based company’s two ABB robotic machines to feed printers and folder gluers were supplied by C-Tech Machines which specialises in robotics and automation systems.
The contract includes design, manufacture, supply, installation and after sales service. Further, the company has installed a dedicated on-site server to link directly with technical experts at C-Tech Machines.
“This is an extremely powerful management and problem solving tool,” says managing director John Curran.
The firm is undertaking a £2.4m investment programme at its six-acre site. It has already installed new die cutting, folder gluing and printing machinery and an automated palletwrapping line in addition to new production, warehousing and office extensions which have seen the facility expand to 40,000sq ft. In the current financial year, Northern Paper Board is pumping another £600,000 into the business.
The new robots will be followed by an automated stacking system for the palletisation line due for installation this month. It will give the firm the capacity to produce up to 150,000 boxes on a single day shift. Northern Paper Board’s product range covers 4-point glued lids and bases to 6-point glued one-piece boxes, including PE-coated, uncoated and leak-proof boxes.
In the past three years, turnover has risen from £5.4m to £8.3m and is set to increase again in the current financial year to an estimated £10m.
Northern Paper Board
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