The right manipulators make light work

In order to streamline processes and relieve the burden on operators, it is important to develop solutions that are fully adapted to the tasks at hand, yet not unnecessarily complicated. That is Arcadel's philosophy. With over 30 years of experience in pneumatic manipulators and an equally longstanding partnership with Italian manufacturer Dalmec, the Roeselare-based company delivers smart and intuitive tools tailored to each process.

In the food industry, both in production and in packaging departments and other ancillary activities, a lot of
manual and repetitive operations take place. Bags are dragged, buckets poured out, boxes stacked and unstacked, you name it. "For operators, this can be very stressful," knows Thierry Reverse of Arcadel. "Fortunately, companies are increasingly realizing that they need to do something about it, both for the sake of increased efficiency and to safeguard their human capital. After all, good technical personnel are not just lying around for the taking."

Weightless

Those who think automation is the only avenue to simplify manual processes, however, are wrong. "Not every process can or should be fully automated. Cost and lack of flexibility are major barriers. But that does not mean there is no chance for improvement. Pneumatic manipulators, for example, do not completely take over the operator's job, but they do minimize the physical burden. They do this by making the piece - a barrel, bag, bucket, plate, roller ... - weightless, after which the operator can effortlessly and precisely move it, turn it or manipulate it in any other way. You don't have to remotely control anything with buttons, but literally have it in your hands, albeit without the heavy load."

Endless possibilities

Although the basic principle of pneumatic manipulators is always the same, Reverse says no two are the same. "Obviously there are different types, versions and weight classes, but the greatest versatility is in the different toolings. These range from a simple hook to custom grippers with suction cups or magnets." For Lutosa, for example, where a manipulator is used to move an entire layer of cardboard boxes from one pallet to another in one motion, Arcadel equipped the gripper with different clamps so that it can adapt perfectly to different stacking patterns. In turn, an additional rotating shaft on the gripper allows the boxes to be edged layer by layer. "Manipulators, by the way, don't just come in handy for transporting or stacking goods. Much more freedom of movement can be integrated. At Coca-Cola in Wilrijk, for example, our devices are used to pick up rolls of film, tilt them and slide them onto the axis of the machine."

Always customized

Such customization is Arcadel's calling card. "To acquaint clients with the intuitive operation and the diversity of possibilities, about ten different manipulators are set up in our showroom in Roeselare. And yet hardly anyone ever goes home with exactly such a device. Everything is tailored to the specific needs of the project. For this we go on site, look at the process and the circumstances and design an adapted manipulator. For example, should it hang on rails or stand on a base? Should it be movable? What movements should it be able to make and what is the predetermined cadence? How heavy and bulky are the pieces? What gripper or tooling do you need to do the predetermined action in the most efficient yet safe way? Does the device come in direct contact with food products, and if so, is it just the gripper or does the entire manipulator need to be made of stainless steel? All these issues are examined and passed on to the engineering team in Italy, after which they proceed to further engineering and production. Then the device is extensively tested with test material from the customer. Only then is it transferred here and we take care of installation, maintenance and further service."