SOKOA: Automating the Palletising of Multi-Size Cartons Using Intelligent Robotics
SOKOA: Automating the Palletising of Multi-Size Cartons Using Intelligent Robotics
Equans Digital is deploying a robotic solution capable of optimising the palletising of more than 70 SKUs of multi-format cartons
Amid growing industrial activity, SOKOA—a major manufacturer of seating for public spaces and offices—sought to modernise its logistics operations to increase production capacity while improving working conditions for its teams. To address these challenges, Equans Digital designed and deployed an automated mixed-product palletising solution, capable of intelligently assembling pallets consisting of products of varying dimensions, weights, and destinations.
A Strategic Project to Enhance Logistics Performance
Order fulfillment at SOKOA involves the daily management of a large number of product SKUs with different characteristics. This diversity complicates the process of building pallets and increases operational challenges for the logistics teams.
To support its industrial growth, SOKOA has launched a project aimed at automating the palletising of multi-format cartons while ensuring consistent quality, improved shipment traceability, and a reduction in manual handling tasks.
The Challenges of the Automated Palletising Project at SOKOA
Designing a solution capable of automatically optimising the assembly of complex pallets
In an industrial environment characterised by a wide variety of products and high order volumes, SOKOA was looking for a solution capable of automating palletising while maintaining a high level of flexibility. The challenge was not merely to automate a material-handling operation, but to enable an intelligent system to build optimised pallets in real time using cartons of varying dimensions, weights, and destinations.
The steady increase in production volumes required a logistics system capable of handling higher volumes without compromising the quality of order fulfillment. SOKOA needed to increase its capacity while maintaining the delivery standards expected by its customers.
With more than 70 SKUs to handle, the palletising operations had to accommodate cartons of varying sizes and weights. Each pallet had to be assembled in the most efficient way possible to ensure its stability, optimise transport, and minimise the risk of product damage.
Palletising operations are a repetitive and physically demanding task. One of the project’s main objectives was to minimise manual handling, reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, and improve working conditions for logistics teams.
Pallet assembly plays a key role in the overall performance of the supply chain. SOKOA wanted to make order fulfillment more reliable, reduce loading errors, and improve shipment tracking in order to ensure a higher quality of service for its customers.
Beyond robotics, the project relied on the ability to leverage industrial data to automatically calculate the optimal loading configuration. The algorithms developed by Equans Digital had to simultaneously take into account the dimensions of the boxes, their weight, their destination, and stability constraints in order to maximise pallet fill while ensuring compliance with logistics requirements.
Why choose Equans Digital for your robotics and automated palletising projects?
With its expertise in industrial robotics, industrial data and logistics automation, Equans Digital supports manufacturers in transforming their material handling and order fulfillment operations.
Our teams design customised robotic solutions capable of improving productivity, workflow flexibility, and working conditions while ensuring high levels of quality and operational performance.
The robotic solution deployed by Equans Digital
To meet the project’s objectives, Equans Digital designed a robotic cell for mixed-load palletizing combined with an intelligent optimisation software layer.
The system automatically identifies, handles, and positions the various packages to build optimised and stable pallets.
The teams at Equans Digital have developed algorithms that automatically determine the optimal placement of packages based on their weight, size, and destination.
The teams handled the equipment interfacing, the integration of robotics, and the adaptation of existing processes.
Team training, on-site assistance, technical support, and maintenance were provided to ensure rapid adoption and long-term performance.
Discover the robotics and automated palletising project at SOKOA in this video
Automation that simultaneously improves quality, logistics, and working conditions
“ This innovation has led to a significant improvement in working conditions as well as in the quality of the final product. No more worries about oversized packages to handle, and no more repalletising required along the way to optimise space inside the trucks. Our pallets arrive at our customers’ facilities exactly as they were when they left the factory!”
Nicolas CHARRIER, Site and Production Manager - SOKOA
Results Achieved at SOKOA Through Automated Robotics
Are you looking to automate your palletising or industrial material-handling operations?
Automated palletising, depalletising, order fulfillment, loading, and unloading: Equans Digital’s Robotics & Automation experts will support you in designing and deploying solutions tailored to your industrial challenges. Contact our experts today.Are you looking to automate your palletising or industrial material-handling operations?
Automated palletising, depalletising, order fulfillment, loading, and unloading: Equans Digital’s Robotics & Automation experts will support you in designing and deploying solutions tailored to your industrial challenges. Contact our experts today.