Industry Intelligence Inc. Published the following piece about Shemesh’s complete robotics-enhanced bottling line for cosmetics products with the aim of reducing downtime, lowering expenses, and preventing the complexities of integrating machinery. You can read the original article here.

London-based robotics company Shemesh launches TKS-C60 packaging line for cosmetics at 60 bottles/minute; line is built to handle entire packaging process from feeding to palletizing, uses ABB/FANUC spider robot to provide precise bottle orientation

The need to package a range of product shapes and sizes – a common challenge in the cosmetics industry – has caused manufacturers to toil with the complexities of integrating machinery from different suppliers, expensive line-changeover parts and changeover related downtime, for too long. Now, Shemesh Automation has developed a solution that changes all of that – the TKS-C60 complete robotics-enhanced packaging line for cosmetics.

The new line from Shemesh has been built to handle the entire process – feeding, filling, capping, labelling, case packing and palletising cosmetics products of all shapes and sizes.

The TKS-C60 ensures a seamless, uninterrupted bottling line for a range of products from creams and foundations to fragrances and nail polish at an impressive rate of 60 bottles per minute. The line consists of three ABB Delta Robots – one on the product unscrambling station, one for accurate multi-capping and one for case packing – as well as an integrated advanced vision system. All manufactured by one experienced team, to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.

This smart technology is manufactured from high grade, robust stainless steel. Two lanes offer greater flexibility, with the capability to pack different products on the same line simply by setting up the requisite recipes via a smart HMI screen. The linear rather than rotary feed means there are fewer parts for faster and easier changeovers and cleaning. It can identify cap types of any dimension – screw caps, snap-on caps, pump/spray caps and more. For shaped products, the line can also include pucks loaders and unloaders as well – offering maximum flexibility.

ETNA, the line’s automatic bottle unscrambler, uses an ABB/FANUC spider robot to provide precise bottle orientation, covering virtually all bottle types common to the cosmetic sector. The robotic elements ensure no change parts are required (except in some cases for the robot grippers) when unscrambling multiple different bottle shapes. This results in much less downtime and a huge reduction in format parts costs over time.

Robots ensure the bottles for filling and caps are facing the correct way – saving on labour. After capping, the line provides a front and back or full-wrap customizable labelling function, ensuring the cosmetics products are looking their absolute best! Case packing, sealing and efficient transition to the palletizer help to make this seamless system second to none in the manufacture and packaging of cosmetics.

Thanks to the extra control and force provided by its double-servo driven pistons, the STRATUM provides the versatile liquid filling solution at the heart of this extraordinary line. Capable of accurately filling a wide range of viscosities (from 1 to 500,000 Centipoise) to within +/- 0.25% of filling volume, STRATUM is the perfect filler for cosmetics manufacturers with a diverse product range.

ATTILUS, the Continuous Motion Cosmetics Capping Machine utilizes a robotic sorter based on Delta Robot and an advanced vision system to enable higher speeds, enhanced accuracy and unprecedented flexibility in automatic screw, pump and spray cap sorting.

Also, the ATTILUS utilizes a servo-controlled pick & place Cartesian Robotic Arm (gantry two axis robot) to track and deliver the caps to the bottles while in motion, ensuring smoother and faster production.

The ATTILUS includes bottle tracking and a synchronized gantry robot based on encoders and servos. Its integrated Siemens/AB PLC & HMI puts the operator in complete control, allowing simple programming – changing formats and course of movement at the touch of a button. The Robotic enhancement of the ATTILUS also ensures changeover downtime is kept to a minimum (under 20 minutes).

Adapted to work with corrosive products as well as flammable liquids – such as nail polish remover- the TKS-C60 supports global manufacturing regulations, is Industry 4.0 ready and offers ATEX protection standards in explosive atmospheres.

Shai Shemesh, president of Shemesh Automation, says: “In developing the TKS-C60 we have poured years of engineering knowhow into solving a genuine pain point for our cosmetics customers:  The ability to efficiently pack multiple product types with one smart line. It’s another game-changer from our engineering and R&D teams.”

“From consultation to design-and-build and ultimately service, we always aim to offer a one-stop-shop to our customers. The TKS-C60 is a fantastic example of how the ability to source an end-to-end packaging solution, enhanced by the very latest robotic technology, from one trusted supplier can unlock major savings for our customers in both time and money. ”

You can read the full article, published by Industry Intelligence Inc. on 3rd February 2023 here.