Pack Expo: New robots, software and a compact controller

Including ABB System Integrator partner exhibits, more than 20 ABB robots and robot systems are expected at Pack Expo 2010.

October 27, 2010

ABB Robotics, a supplier of industrial robots, will feature several new generation packaging robots, an array of new software technologies and a new compact controller at Pack Expo 2010, October 31 – November 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The ABB exhibit (Booth # 3236) will display more robots than prior Pack Expo shows, including production technology for the full range of picking, packing and palletizing operations. The highlights of the exhibit include (*indicates new technology, not previously introduced):

  • *The new IRB 760, a 450 kg payload palletizing robot.  Ideal for full layer palletizing, de-palletizing, re-palletizing and mixed-load palletizing, the new IRB 760 is suited for the heaviest applications, including beverages.  Available Q1 2011.
  • The IRB 660 palletizing robot, featuring an unmatched combination of speed, reach and payload for the most rigorous box pattern, stability, precision and cycle time demands.
  • *The new IRB 460, a 110 kg payload robot for bag palletizing and end-of-line palletizing. The IRB 460 will be fastest bag palletizer in the industry capable of handling up to 3,000 bags an hour.  Available Q1 2011.
  • An IRB 4600 palletizing robot, the lightest general-purpose robot in its class.  The IRB 4600 can be floor- or shelf-mounted, tilted and even inverted.
  • The versatile IRB 260, optimized for handling single or multiple products for case packing applications. 
  • An invert mounted IRB 120, ABB’s smallest 6-axis robot, with all the functionality and advanced design features of larger ABB robots in an economical, lightweight configuration for small footprint applications.  The extremely high-speed IRB 120 can achieve in excess of 90 pick-and-place cycles per minute. (Based on ABB’s standard reference pick-and-place cycle.)
  • The new IRC5 Compact controller, now available for the IRB 120 and 140 robots.  The smaller controller facilitates smarter, leaner robot cell designs while maintaining ABB’s superior control of production lines.  Like all ABB controllers, the IRC5 Compact operates RobotWare 5.13 software featuring advanced application functions and superior motion performance.
  • A full lineup of IRB 360 FlexPickers, the industry’s only “second generation” delta robot.  The IRB 360 is available in a variety of configurations to meet payload/performance, working range and sanitation requirements for a wide range of applications.   On display will be three models: the long reach, the stainless steel washdown version of the standard reach, and the compact reach.  *A fourth FlexPicker, equipped with a fifth axis developed in collaboration with DE-STA-CO, will highlight a live demo picking and placing an assortment of small cereal boxes.  The fifth axis allows the IRB 360 to pick flat product and reorient it to an on-edge position at the high speeds commensurate with standard pick-and-place operations.
  • ABB’s new and improved PickMaster™ application package, which simplifies the integration of vision guidance, vision inspection, conveyor tracking and optimized high speed pick-and-place performance for the complete range of material handling applications.
  • *Indexed Conveyor Control (ICC), allowing the IRB 360 to accurately perform picking or placing operations on indexing conveyors at rates up to 450 indexes per minute. Designed to reduce the cost and complexity of high speed carton loading, this application package allows the IRB 360 to perform pick-and-place operations on indexing packaging machine infeeds, improving system throughput up to 50%.

“By strengthening our palletizing product line we will have the ideal robot for virtually every robotic packaging application,” said Joe Campbell, vice president of the ABB Robot Products Group in the U.S.

With many authorized ABB Robotics integration partners also exhibiting, more than 20 ABB robots and systems will be featured at Pack Expo 2010. The list of partner exhibits includes:

  • Bradman Lake (Booth #2338)
  • JLS Automation (Booth #3931)
  • Blueprint Automation (Booth #4220)
  • Fallas Automation (Booth #2430)
  • MDC Engineering  (Booth #5719)
  • Orics Industries (Booth #1334)
  • Axium (Booth #1377)
  • Propack Processing & Packaging Systems (Booth #2686)
  • Mecsmart Systems (Booth #5756) 

www.abb.com/robotics

ABB Robotics

See other Pack Expo coverage at www.controleng.com, including:

Pack Expo: Smart cameras boost packing quality, reduce costs

Also read:

ABB Robotics: 10 reasons to buy a robot now; see photos, videos – Think you shouldn’t be spending money on a robot now? These 10 reasons may prove why lean times could be the best time to invest in robotics. See photos. Link to robot videos.

Control Engineering Machine Control Channel.


– Edited by Amanda McLeman, Control Engineering, CFE Media, www.controleng.com