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#SuccessStory #Pens #Vials Increased Capacity, Enhanced Efficiency

  • Gentle handling of products in carton inserts or trays
  • Precise placement of pens and vials in folding cartons
  • Transmodul ensures seamless transport between process steps
  • Support for packaging material development
  • Careful, damage-free product handling
  • High overall equipment efficiency

13

Packaging Formats

 

3D

Kamera

 

Requirement

Efficient, flexible, and gentle packaging of vials and pens.

A Schubert packaging system enables a biotechnology company to package pens and vials efficiently, flexibly, and with maximum product care.

To expand capacity and increase efficiency, the team at a major biotechnology company in the Netherlands sought a new system capable of handling vials and pens in various packaging configurations. High flexibility and precise handling were key requirements. The Schubert-Pharma solution meets these demands successfully through the integration of a new 3D camera system and the Transmodul transport robot.

 

Solution

Gentle product handling for maximum safety

When it comes to medical products, gentle handling is of utmost importance—especially avoiding glass-to-glass contact. The Schubert system therefore packages vials and pens in carton inserts or trays to ensure optimal protection.

A particular advantage is the Schubert-developed 3D camera, which detects the precise position of each pen. This ensures that even if a pen shifts after being picked, it can be accurately targeted during the next handling step.

The Schubert solution not only handles sensitive medications with extreme care but also offers high flexibility: vials and pens can be packaged in a total of 13 different formats.

 

“The rapid commissioning of this complex task on site impressed the customer.”

Karin Kleinbach, Sales Director Pharma
Schubert Packaging Systems GmbH
 

 

Precise and Gentle Product Handling Thanks to 3D Camera

Vials enter the machine via a conveyor belt. A camera detects their position while simultaneously checking for the presence of closure caps. An F4 robot then picks each vial from the belt and groups them on a Transmodul.

For the Pens format, products are fed to the F4 robots in transport boxes containing 120 units each, conveyed on a separate belt.

Here, a specially developed 3D camera by Schubert comes into play. The transport boxes with 120 Pens are positioned in the working area of the pick-and-place robot. The F4 robot picks the Pens individually and groups them on the Transmodul. After each product is removed, the 3D camera scans the contents of the transport boxes, determining the exact position and stack height of every single Pen.

Erecting, Loading, and Closing Cartons and Inserts

Carton blanks are removed from a magazine and erected. They are then equipped with trays or carton inserts. Robots form the inserts and place them into the prepared cartons. Sensors integrated into the robot tools ensure that each carton is properly equipped with an insert or tray.

In the next step, the pre-grouped products are loaded into the ready cartons and securely positioned. After adding the patient information leaflet, the cartons are closed in the final step.