Zippy Ice
Client & Objective
As a supplier of ice to over 1,000 convenience stores, restaurants and grocery stores in North Carolina, Zippy Ice knew it had to expand its palletizing operation in order to grow its business. The question was whether to hire and train more people for this unwanted job of stacking bags of ice or invest in automation.
The Challenges
Zippy's management team knew that hiring, training and retaining employees for this arduous work would not be easy, but that any investment in automation must overcome the following challenges.
Speed - It had to be fast enough to keep up with growing demand
Space - It had to fit within a certain area in the existing facility
Reliability - It had to run efficiently and consistently
Flexible - It needed to be able to stack multiple sizes of bags on different sized pallets
Safety - It needed to operate in a safe manner
The Solution
After evaluating Zippy's operation, space and current palletizing process, the team at MMCI Automation recommended its IcePal 200 robotic ice bag palletizer. The small-footprint palletizer was outfitted with innovative end-of-arm-tooling that could efficiently stack many different sized bags and featured an automated pallet conveyor that could accommodate multiple sizes and styles of pallets.
Results
Not only did Zippy's investment in the IcePal 200 improve productivity and reduce costs, but it greatly expanded its capacity - allowing the company to target new business opportunities to grow its business.
Production was able to increase from 8 bags a minute to 20
Overall capacity increased from about 20 pallets a day to 50
A job that previously required 2 hard-working people, could now be monitored by 1 person
Safe, easy operation and MMCI's dial-in support ensured ongoing success
Three Models with Varying Levels of Automation
IcePal palletizers come in three standard models. All models utilize the same highly reliable FANUC robotic arm but include enhancements for pallet conveying, dispensing and wrapping.
IcePal 100: Compact, Cost-Effective Automation
- Single Pallet: Perfect for operations seeking to automate with a smaller footprint.
- Flexible Layouts: Offers the same adaptability as the IcePal 200 in a more compact form.
- Small Footprint: Fits into tighter spaces without sacrificing performance.
- Low Entry Cost: Provides an affordable entry point into automation.
- High Capacity: Matches the IcePal 200 with the capability to handle 35 Bags per minute.
IcePal 200: The Powerhouse of Efficiency
- Double Pallets: Maximizes productivity by handling two pallets simultaneously.
- Flexible Layouts: Adapts to your space, allowing for a variety of configuration options.
- High Capacity: Powers through your demands with the ability to process 35 bags per minute.
- Expandable: Scales with your business, ensuring that increased demand is never a problem.
IcePal 300: The Pinnacle of Ice Bag Palletizing Efficiency
- Most advanced model in our line of IcePal palletizers, designed to meet the high demands of ice bag packaging operations.
- Fully Automated System: Streamlines the palletizing process, significantly reducing manual labor and associated costs.
- Stretch Wrapper Integration: Offers an optional stretch wrap feature, providing a complete end-of-line solution that ensures secure and stable pallets ready for transport.
How Can We Help?
At any stage of your automation project, we can help.
Call us at 314-438-3300 or fill out the form below.