(ST. LOUIS: April 24, 2008) FKI Logistex 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.
"FKI Logistex understands the importance of our customers' green initiatives," said Frank Pellegrino, vice president of machine products for FKI Logistex Manufacturing Systems North America. "The Robotics Integration Group provides them with an enhanced resource for custom robotic palletizing solutions to give them the end-of-line flexibility they need as their packaging changes."
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.
"The Robotics Integration Group reaffirms FKI Logistex as a one-stop, single-source provider of automated material handling systems," said Steve Ackerman, president, FKI Logistex North America. "We're pleased to support our customers' efforts to promote sustainable packaging while providing the flexibility and increased efficiency for a quick ROI."
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 recently released a white paper titled Picking the Best Robotic Tooling for Palletizing to help customers choose the appropriate type of robotic end-of-arm tooling for their specific range of packaging types.
About FKI Logistex
FKI Logistex is a leading global provider of automated material handling solutions, supplying its customers with an integrated set of leading-edge technologies in high-speed sortation, conveyor systems, robotic and conventional palletizing, paperless pick products, AS/RS, controls, order fulfillment systems, RFID implementation, EDS integration, baggage handling systems, warehouse control systems, and total material handling automation.
FKI Logistex provides material handling solutions for airports, postal facilities, parcel distribution, manufacturing operations, library automation, and for warehouse and distribution facilities. With projects that include many of the world's largest and most advanced material handling operations, FKI Logistex has manufacturing, engineering and support facilities around the world.
