At Anthura, thousands of trays need to move smoothly from A to B every day. Less manual work, more overview — that was the request. Together, we developed a smart system with one robot as the central component.
This is how it works
Full tables with trays are brought in and come to the robot. The robot scoops complete rows of trays from the container each time and determines the next step with each move:
- Trays towards conveyor belt and buffer area;
- Trays back on the table at sorting position 1;
- Trays back on the table at sorting position 2.
By maintaining those flexible decision moments, Anthura keeps control over the process, whether it concerns storage or sorting.
Smart buffering and moving
On the conveyor belts, the trays are guided one by one to the buffer area. Retractors ensure that the trays are neatly placed in the correct lanes. This keeps the whole system tight and organized.
Employees can easily operate the process with foot switches and stops on the conveyor belts, allowing them to manually hold back or let through trays. The system provides immediate feedback to the administration, so trays are automatically deducted.
Speed and capacity
The robot averages about 625 trays per hour, with peaks reaching 830 trays at optimal settings. Especially during direct placement to the buffer area, the speed is high.
With a recent optimization, a capacity of up to 1,400 trays per hour is even achievable. A significant step forward, then – and ready for situations where more is required.
A complete solution tailored to the workplace
In the design, not only was the technology considered, but also the people who work with it. At the end of the conveyor, an adjustable work platform has been placed, custom-made, so that processing the trays is easy and ergonomic.
Result
Anthura now has a flexible and scalable system that offers both speed and control. Less manual work, fewer errors, and more overview — exactly what you want in a modern nursery.
Also looking for smart logistics solutions?
Curious about what is possible in your company with robots or buffer zones? We are happy to brainstorm with you. Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation conversation or a tour of the workshop. Just give us a call or send an email for the quickest response.