Category: News
WMH recently designed and installed an innovative robotic pizza laning system. The solution maximises production efficiency and eliminates downtime during packaging changeovers.
During normal operation, the system transfers three pizza lanes to three flow wrappers. When operators change a film reel, three gantry-mounted robots automatically redistribute the product flow. The robots merge the three lanes into two balanced lanes and keep production running continuously.
The system features three Mitsubishi gantry-mounted robots with bespoke hygienic end effectors. Together, they collate and uniformly space up to 140 pizzas per minute across three lanes. As pizzas enter the handling area, a sensor on each lane detects their position. The robots then track and manage product movement across the conveyor belts.
When operators take a flow wrapper offline for a film change, the robots immediately redirect product from that lane. They merge the flow with the output feeding the remaining wrappers. Intelligent control software continuously balances the product flow between the active wrappers. This approach prevents overloads and maintains optimal throughput.
WMH engineered the bespoke end effector to contact only the outer edge of each pizza base. This design eliminates the risk of topping damage and supports the highest hygiene standards.
“The sensors and robots track the product in an incredibly simple way, removing the need for a complex vision system,” said a WMH spokesperson.
For more information about WMH and its bespoke handling systems, call 01579 383788 or email enquiries@wmh-uk-ltd.com.