Collaborative Robot Palletizer System

Product Description

The SunAura collaborative robot palletizer is a compact, entry-level robotic palletizing cell built for small and medium operations that want to remove the hardest, most injury-prone manual task — lifting and stacking cases — without committing to a large fenced system. The entire cell sits on a floor footprint of just 1.2 × 1.0 m, runs on a standard 220V single-phase wall outlet, and weighs about 120 kg, so it can be moved and bolted down by two people without a foundation or three-phase power drop.

The 6-axis collaborative arm carries a 10kg payload out to a 1300mm reach and completes up to 8 pick-and-place cycles per minute. Programming is by hand guidance: an operator holds the arm by its handle and physically walks it through the pick point, place point, and one full layer pattern; the cobot records the path and repeats it. A touchscreen HMI on a compact pedestal lets you switch between pallet patterns, adjust layer counts, and monitor cycle count in plain language. Because the arm is power- and force-limited, it slows or stops on contact, so operators can load empty pallets and remove loaded pallets directly beside it — no light curtains, no safety fence.

A vacuum gripper comes standard for rigid cartons and trays; mechanical soft-jaw grippers are available for bags and pouches on request. Every unit undergoes a 48-hour continuous run test before shipment and ships CE certified. Send us your carton samples and pallet size — our engineers will program and test the pattern on the actual cell and send video documentation before you place the order.

Technical Specifications

Key Features & Benefits

• No safety fencing required: Power- and force-limited collaborative design means the arm stops on contact. Operators load and remove pallets safely beside the robot — saves guarding cost and valuable floor space.
• Hand-guided, no-code programming: Physically drag the arm through the pick-and-place path to teach a new pattern. No robotic engineering background needed — your own operator can change over SKUs in minutes.
• Single-phase 220V plug-and-run: No three-phase power, no dedicated electrician, no foundation. Drop it on a standard factory floor and start production the same day.
• Tiny 1.2 × 1.0 m footprint: At only ~120 kg, the cell fits beside existing packing benches and can be repositioned between lines as production changes.
• Quick-change EOAT: Standard vacuum gripper for cartons and trays; swap to a mechanical soft-jaw gripper for bags and pouches without tools.
• Low total cost of ownership: Entry-level price with no recurring guards or safety audits. Eliminates repetitive lifting injuries and the cost of a dedicated palletizing operator.
• CE-compliant construction: Guarded wrist, emergency stop, and compliant collaborative safety system — meets European machinery and robot safety requirements.

Application Industries

Load compatibility: Rigid cartons, trays, shrink-wrapped packs and light pouches up to 10kg total. Not intended for heavy bags, drums or continuous 24/7 high-speed duty.

How the Collaborative Robot Palletizer Works

Because it is a collaborative cobot, the cycle is deliberately simple and safe. The arm picks from a fixed infeed point and places onto the pallet in a pre-taught pattern:

1. Cases arrive on the infeed conveyor. A photo-eye detects each carton and signals the arm when it is centered under the vacuum pick position.
2. Vacuum gripper descends and picks. The EOAT lowers, the vacuum pump pulls down pressure, and suction cups grip the top of the rigid carton; a vacuum sensor confirms a secure hold before the arm moves.
3. Arm moves to the place position. The 6-axis arm carries the carton in a smooth arc over to the pallet. Because it is force-limited, it slows near people and stops on any unexpected contact.
4. Carton placed in the taught pattern. The arm lowers to the exact layer height, releases the vacuum, and lifts away. The HMI counts the placed item and advances the pattern position (row then layer).
5. Pallet full — operator swaps it. When the layer count is reached, the arm parks to the side. The operator rolls away the loaded pallet and slides in an empty one while the cobot waits — no downtime, no fence to open.

Is This the Right Palletizer for You?

This collaborative system is the right fit if your operation matches all four of the following. If you fall outside any of them, our team can recommend a different SunAura model:

1. Single loads up to 10kg: The cobot is rated for 10kg including the gripper. If you regularly handle 20–50kg cartons or heavy bags, step up to a 4-axis floor-standing robot such as our dual-station or 120kg model.
2. Throughput up to ~8 cycles/min: Expect up to about 8 picks per minute. If your line needs 12–15 cycles/min or continuous 24/7 operation, a dual-station or high-level layer palletizer will suit you better.
3. Limited floor space and single-phase power: The 1.2 × 1.0 m footprint and 220V single-phase supply are ideal when you cannot justify a fenced cell or a three-phase drop. If you have a larger cell area and want maximum throughput, a floor-standing robot may be more cost-effective per case.
4. People work alongside the cell: Choose this when operators must load pallets, change patterns, or tend the line without a safety gate. If your product is heavy, sharp, or fully automatic 24/7, a fenced robotic cell is the safer, more durable choice.

Troubleshooting Guide — Common Issues & Solutions

Collaborative palletizers are easy to live with, but small operations occasionally hit pick or pattern issues. Below are the most common problems we diagnose remotely, their likely causes, and fixes. Always lock out power before reaching into the cell.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, email photos and a short 10-second video to [email protected] — our engineers usually diagnose the root cause within one business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Palletizers

Dual-Station Robotic Palletizer

Compact Carton Palletizer

Four-Axis Robotic Palletizer (120kg)

Low-Level Case Palletizer

Browse the full range on the palletizers landing page. Also explore our induction sealers and filling machines to build a complete packaging line.