The Ultimate Guide To Identifying Different Types Of Palletization

Palletization is a core step within the provide chain course of. On the floor, palletizing can appear quite simple — you simply stack packing containers onto an empty pallets. But there are various several types of palletization and numerous methods to check these sorts.

With so many various pallet sorts and supplies, course of layouts, and ranges of automation, it is simple to grow to be overwhelmed when attempting to find out which sort of palletization is finest suited to your particular wants.

In this information, we stroll you thru every of the several types of palletization. We examine every sort’s benefits and downsides that will help you establish the perfect one for you.

How many sorts of palletization are there?

Given their supposed simplicity, pallets may be surprisingly complicated.

It’s arduous to say precisely what number of distinct sorts of palletization there are. Depending on who you’re speaking to, they might have other ways of categorizing pallets and the processes surrounding them.

For instance, a pallet producer might differentiate pallets by materials, form, or business – totally different industries typically require particular pallets for regulatory causes. A course of engineer would possibly as an alternative have a look at how pallets can match into the packing processes in numerous methods. And an automation engineer will in all probability have a look at the totally different ranges of automation.

As a pallet consumer, it is useful to grasp these totally different categorizations so you can also make extra knowledgeable selections in your finish of line processes.

4 methods to check several types of palletization

There isn’t any definitive “normal” that describes several types of palletization.

However, listed below are 4 helpful methods which you can differentiate between them:

1. By pallet sort

One helpful solution to examine pallets themselves is to take a look at the kind of pallet.

For instance, you can examine them by the fabric that the pallet is produced from, resembling wooden, steel, or plastic. You may examine the design of the pallet, resembling winged, stringer, or nested.

You can discover out extra about totally different pallet sorts in our article 10 Types of Pallet You Should Definitely Know About.

2. By palletizing sample

Another widespread technique of evaluating pallets is by their palletizing sample. This means wanting on the order and orientation during which you positioned packing containers on the pallet. Examples embody interlocked, cut up, row, and pinwheel.

The pallet sample has a robust impression on the steadiness of the packing containers. You can discover out extra about palletizing patterns in our article 7 Palletizing Patterns for Your Cobot to Reduce Product Damage

3. By course of format

Another means of palletizing is to not give attention to the pallets themselves, however to take a look at how they combine into the remainder of your operations.

By choosing the proper course of format, you make sure that the steps main as much as your palletizing operation are probably the most environment friendly doable. Examples of various palletizing course of sorts embody serial palletization, parallel palletization, and hub and spoke palletization.

4. By stage of automation

Finally, a really useful solution to examine several types of palletization is to take a look at the extent of automation.

Level of automation determines how a lot of the palletizing activity you might have given (or might give) to automated equipment.

What’s probably the most helpful solution to examine palletization sorts?

With all these choices, what’s probably the most helpful solution to examine palletization sorts?

It is dependent upon why you need to examine them.

Comparing by pallet sort is helpful when you’re buying pallets. However, it’s not such a helpful comparability when you already know what pallets you can be utilizing.

Comparing by pallet sample may help you optimize your use of house on the pallets themselves. This is may be an ongoing course of and it is useful to test your pallet patterns often, particularly if you’re altering your pallet layouts typically.

Comparing by course of format is most useful when you’re designing or bettering your whole facility format. After this, it is unlikely you’ll have a look at course of format fairly often.

For many individuals trying to enhance their palletizing course of, probably the most related is the extent of automation. By evaluating for stage of automation, you can also make the precise choices about what technological options would most assist your palletizing course of.

Palletization by stage of automation: benefits and downsides

When you’re evaluating palletizing sorts by stage of automation, there are 4 fundamental ranges you’ll be able to have a look at.

Here are the 4 sorts together with their benefits and downsides:

1. Manual palletization

The first and commonest stage of palletization automation is guide palletizing. This requires no automation and as an alternative depends on a human operator to maneuver, manage, and stack merchandise onto the pallet.

The chief benefit of guide palletizing is its flexibility and ease. However, it has enormous disadvantages, together with being unsafe for human operators, pricey when it comes to labor, and inconsistent in high quality.

2. Semi-automated or aided palletization

After guide palletizing, many firms add some stage of automation or mechanical aids to assist with the palletizing activity. A semi-automated course of would possibly embody a system to pack layers onto a pallet, however that also requires human enter.

An benefit of semi-automated methods is that they’re available and may be virtually as versatile as people. However, they’re typically pricey, much less versatile than different types of automation, and take up numerous house.

3. Conventional automated palletization

The standard method to automating palletization duties is to make use of totally automated palletization machines. These are generally utilized in mass manufacturing environments.

An benefit of standard palletizing automation is that they palletize in a short time. However, a draw back is that they’re enormous, complicated to put in, and rigid to modifications.

4. Robotic palletization

Robotic palletization includes utilizing a robotic to stack merchandise onto the pallet. There are differing types, from giant industrial robotic palletizers (that share among the similar downsides as standard automation) to collaborative robotic palletizers.

Collaborative robotic palletizers, specifically, are very versatile, price efficient, and straightforward to deploy. Although they aren’t as quick as their standard counterparts, they provide the advantages of robotic palletization to many extra environments than was doable beforehand.

Finding the perfect sort of palletization for you

Which sort of palletization is finest for you?

It’s useful to first determine what you need in your palletizing. This will assist you to determine the easiest way to check the totally different palletizing sorts on supply.

If you’re looking at robotic palletizing, you can also make your life a lot simpler by selecting a palletizing utility equipment. This consists of all the pieces you could get began with palletizing automation and removes lots of the widespread roadblocks that maintain individuals again.

How do you examine palletization sorts in your corporation? Tell us within the feedback beneath or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or the DoF skilled robotics group.