Verbruggen is a specialist in palletizing, but according to sales engineer Freerk-Jan de Haan, they have also been busy with non-pallet stacking lately: "Companies in markets like South America find wood too expensive and the end customer does not want to pay for it. That's why more and more companies opt for stacking goods on sheets. The paper or plastic sheets do not have to be changed, making them cheaper than the pallets. The challenge to this method of stacking is transportation. The wooden pallets are more stable and are easier to transport with a forklift. This is why Europe still uses the conventional pallets. Ultimately, it is a cost-benefit story."
Non-pallet stacking
Along with Europe and South America, Verbruggen is also active in North America. On Tuesday July 14th the Wouter Verbruggen team left to man the U.S. location, "America is known for it's mass production, but the Netherlands can also compete at this level as well. There is not much difference in the machines; but the way business is handled is very different." There are differences in the products that Verbruggen stacks. Freerk-Jan: "Within the fresh produce sector we are mainly active in the onion sector. We are also active in the potato industry and we are seeing a clear shift towards the seed industry."
Palletizing
In addition to non-pallet stacking, modular building is also a popular trend now: "Within this way of engineering, different functions are coupled together. For example, the top frame and bottom frame are easy to customize. When placing an order the customer has a lot of choices in terms of capacity and functionality, and we can quickly switch things in supply. In short: it makes the business more flexible." Stacking cargo is not only more flexible but also faster. Order-driven working is in line with this trend: "The customers use the ERP software system to indicate how many pallets of each product they want, and the machine carries out the order and then prepares for the next order. Following this development, cooperation with other companies that build scales and packagers is increasingly important. If we speak the same language, everything can be controlled via ERP. That way everything can be centrally controlled."
Palletizing
In addition to non-pallet stacking, modular building is also a popular trend now: "Within this way of engineering, different functions are coupled together. For example, the top frame and bottom frame are easy to customize. When placing an order the customer has a lot of choices in terms of capacity and functionality, and we can quickly switch things in supply. In short: it makes the business more flexible." Stacking cargo is not only more flexible but also faster. Order-driven working is in line with this trend: "The customers use the ERP software system to indicate how many pallets of each product they want, and the machine carries out the order and then prepares for the next order. Following this development, cooperation with other companies that build scales and packagers is increasingly important. If we speak the same language, everything can be controlled via ERP. That way everything can be centrally controlled."
Turning sacks through the gripper
Stacking can also be done using manpower. According to Freerk-Jan, the disadvantage of manpower is that men have limited motivation and only so much energy. "If men were to stack at the same tempo as the machines, it would be too fast for them. A maximum of 40 to 45 sacks per minute can be packed. This can be stretched by working with two sacks at the same time. With palletizing the product has to be rotated in order to be stacked neatly; that costs time."
More information:
Verbruggen
Freerk-Jan de Haan
E: fj.dehaan@verbruggen.nl
T: 0527 620 232 / 06-48268406
www.verbruggen.nl