FKI Logistex Forms Dedicated Robotics Integration Group

Logistics Asia - Top Story, 5/5/2008

Expansion provides focused robotic palletizing solutions in response to increased demand from sustainable packaging initiatives.

FKI Logistex, a global leader in integrated material handling solutions, has formed a dedicated Robotics Integration Group to provide customers with focused robotic palletizing and depalletizing solutions, including system design, manufacture, programming and support. Building on more than 60 years of palletizing experience, the organization brings together a knowledgeable team of robotics engineers and integration experts to provide custom robotic palletizing systems for industries including retail distribution, manufacturing, food and beverage, and postal. The group will benefit the company's growing portfolio of Fortune 100 customers with multiple robotic installations by enhancing post-order capability and performance and increasing overall service and support.

According to PMMI's 2007 Packaging Machinery Shipments & Outlook Study, shipments of robotic palletizers rose by more than 16 percent in 2006. The FKI Logistex Robotics Integration Group was designed to help meet the increasing demand for robotic systems, which offer flexibility for dynamic packaging lines affected by sustainable packaging initiatives, marketing changes and the proliferation of club stores.

Bill Natsch, director of business development for FKI Logistex Manufacturing Systems North America, leads the Robotics Integration Group. Prior to joining FKI Logistex in 2006, Natsch was VP of Operations for Bastian Material Handling (formerly Van Pak), where he was responsible for robot integration. Natsch will report to Pellegrino.

FKI Logistex robotic palletizing systems use jointed-arm robots for both single- and multi-line applications to handle products of virtually any shape and size, from cases to pails, totes and bags. FKI Logistex designs and manufactures all critical robotic cell components, including end-of-arm tooling, infeed and discharge conveyor, case unscramblers and PLC programming, as well as industry-leading high-speed conveyor and sortation systems, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), paperless picking systems, software and controls.

FKI Logistex, www.fkilogistex.com